Equity 4 Equity Trading Rules
Notwithstanding the listing standards set forth in the Rule 5000 Series within Equity 3 and Equity 3A, the
Exchange may at any time authorize the use of its systems on a test basis for whatever studies it considers
necessary and appropriate.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
References to “CORE FIX” will be implemented in 2026.
(a) Definitions
(1) “Derivative Securities Product” means a series of Portfolio Depository Receipts, Index Fund Shares, Managed Fund Shares, or Trust Issued Receipts (as defined in Equity 3A, Section 2), a series of Commodity-Related Securities (as defined in Equity 10, Section 8), securities representing interests in unit investment trusts or investment companies, or any other UTP Derivative Security (as defined in Equity 3A, Section 3).
(2) “Extraordinary Market Activity” means a disruption or malfunction of any electronic quotation, communication, reporting, or execution system operated by, or linked to, the Processor or a Trading Center or a member of such Trading Center that has a severe and continuing negative impact on quoting, order, or trading activity or on the availability of market information necessary to maintain a fair and orderly market. For purposes of this definition, a severe and continuing negative impact on quoting, order, or trading activity includes (i) a series of quotes, orders, or transactions at prices substantially unrelated to the current market for the security or securities; (ii) duplicative or erroneous quoting, order, trade reporting, or other related message traffic between one or more Trading Centers or their members; or (iii) the unavailability of quoting, order, transaction information, or regulatory messages for a sustained period.
(3) “Operating Committee” has the same meaning as in the Nasdaq UTP Plan.
(4) “Operational Halt” has the same meaning as in the Nasdaq UTP Plan.
(5) “Post-Market Session” means the trading session that begins after Regular Trading Hours at approximately 4:00 p.m., and that continues until 7:00 p.m.
(6) “Pre-Market Session” means the trading session that begins at 7:00 a.m. and continues until 9:30 a.m.
(7) “Primary Listing Market” has the same meaning as in the Nasdaq UTP Plan.
(8) “Processor” or “SIP” have the same meaning as the term “Processor” in the Nasdaq UTP Plan or in the Consolidated Tape Association Plan, as is applicable.
(9) “Regulatory Halt” has the same meaning as in Section X.A.10 of the Nasdaq UTP Plan.
(10) “Regular Trading Hours” has the same meaning as in the Nasdaq UTP Plan.
(11) “Required Value” shall mean (i) the value of any index or any commodity-related value underlying a Derivative Security Product, (ii) the indicative optimized portfolio value, intraday indicative value, or other comparable estimate of the value of a share of a Derivative Securities Product updated regularly during the trading day, (iii) a net asset value in the case of a Derivative Securities Product for which a net asset value is disseminated, and (iv) a “disclosed portfolio” in the case of a Derivative Securities Product that is a series of managed fund shares or actively managed exchange-traded funds for which a disclosed portfolio is disseminated.
(12) “SIP Halt” has the same meaning as in the Nasdaq UTP Plan.
(13) “SIP Halt Resume Time” has the same meaning as in the Nasdaq UTP Plan.
(14) “SIP Plan” means the national market system plan governing the SIP.
(b) Regulatory Halts
(1) Authority to Implement a Regulatory Halt
(A) The Exchange shall implement a Regulatory Halt in the following circumstances, as applicable:
(i) Implementing a Trading Pause Declared by a Primary Listing Market Pursuant to the Limit Up-Limit Down Mechanism.
a. Definitions for purposes of the Limit Up-Limit Down Mechanism.
1. “LULD Plan” means the National Market System Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility.
2. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Rule shall have the meanings set forth in the LULD Plan or Exchange rules, as applicable.
b. Exchange Participation in the LULD Plan. The Exchange is a Participant in, and subject to the applicable requirements of, the LULD Plan, which establishes procedures to address extraordinary volatility in NMS Stocks.
c. Member Compliance. Members shall comply with the applicable provisions of the LULD Plan.
d. Exchange Compliance with the LULD Plan. Exchange systems shall not display or execute buy (sell) interest above (below) the Upper (Lower) Price Bands, unless such interest is specifically exempted under the LULD Plan.
e. Repricing and Cancellation of Interest. Exchange systems shall reprice and/or cancel buy (sell) interest that is priced or could be executed above (below) the Upper (Lower) Price Band. Any interest that is repriced pursuant to this Rule shall receive a new time stamp and new execution priority.
1. Market Orders. If a market order with a time in force other than Immediate or Cancel cannot be fully executed at or within the Price Bands, Exchange systems shall post the unexecuted portion of the buy (sell) market order at the Upper (Lower) Price Band.
2. Limit-priced Interest. Both displayable and non-displayable incoming limit-priced interest to buy (sell) that is priced above (below) the Upper (Lower) Price Band shall be repriced to the Upper (Lower) Price Band.
a) For limit-priced orders entered via the OUCH or CORE FIX protocols, which are not assigned a Managed Pegging, Discretionary, or Reserve Order Attribute, the order shall be repriced upon entry only if the Price Bands are such that the price of the limit-priced interest to buy (sell) would be above (below) the upper (lower) Price Band. Once slid:
(i) if the Price Bands move such that the price of the order to buy (sell) would be below (above) the lower (upper) Price Band, the order will not be re-priced again. Rather, the order will either remain on the book at the same price or be cancelled back to the entering party, depending on how the entering party has configured its order entry port.
(ii) if the Price Bands move such that the price of the order to buy (sell) would be above (below) the Upper (Lower) Price Band, the order will not be re-priced again. Rather, the order will be cancelled.
b) For limit-priced orders entered via RASH or FIX protocols, or via the OUCH or CORE FIX protocols if assigned a Managed Pegging, Discretionary, or Reserve Order Attribute, the order shall be eligible to be repriced by the system multiple times if the Price Bands move such that the price of resting limit-priced interest to buy (sell) would be above (below) the upper (lower) Price Band. Once slid, if the Price Bands again move such that the price of resting limit interest to buy (sell) would be below (above) the upper (lower) Price Band the order will continue to be repriced either to its original limit price or to the new price bands, whichever is less aggressive.
3. IOC Orders. If an IOC order cannot be fully executed at or within the Price Bands, Exchange systems shall cancel any unexecuted portion of the IOC Order.
4. Routable Orders. Exchange systems shall not route buy (sell) interest to an away market displaying a sell (buy) quote that is above (below) the Upper (Lower) Price Band. Orders that are eligible to be routed to away destinations will be price slid before routing if the buy (sell) is priced above (below) the Upper (Lower) Price Band.
5. Auction Orders. On close or halt auction orders are not price slid or cancelled due to LULD price bands.
6. Sell Short Orders. During a Short Sale Price Test, as defined in Rule 4763(b), Short Sale Orders priced below the Lower Price Band shall be repriced to the higher of the Lower Price Band or the Permitted Price, as defined in Rule 4763(b).
(ii) The Exchange shall implement a trading halt due to extraordinary market volatility, as set forth in Rule 4121.
(iii) Implementing Regulatory Halts Initiated by Other Markets
a. Start Time
1. The start time of a Regulatory Halt is when the Primary Listing Market declares the halt, regardless of whether an issue with communications impacts the dissemination of the notice.
2. The Exchange will halt trading for any securities traded on the Exchange when the Primary Listing Market declares a Regulatory Halt for any such securities.
3. The Exchange may halt trading in Derivative Securities Products on the Exchange:
a) During Pre-Market Session. If a Derivative Securities Product begins trading on the Exchange in the Pre-Market Session and subsequently a temporary interruption occurs in the calculation or wide dissemination of an applicable Required Value, the Exchange may continue to trade the Derivative Securities Product for the remainder of the Pre-Market Session.
b) During Regular Trading Hours. During the Regular Trading Hours, if a temporary interruption occurs in the calculation or wide dissemination of an applicable Required Value, and the listing market halts trading in the Derivative Securities Product, the Exchange, upon notification by the listing market of a halt due to such temporary interruption, also shall immediately halt trading in the Derivative Securities Product on the Exchange.
c) Post-Market Session and Next Trading Day.
(i) If an applicable Required Value continues not to be calculated or widely disseminated after the close of the Regular Trading Hours, the Exchange may trade the Derivative Securities Product in the Post-Market Session only if the listing market traded the Derivative Securities Product until the close of its regular trading session without a halt.
(ii) If an applicable Required Value continues not to be calculated or widely disseminated as of the beginning of the Pre-Market Session on the next trading day, the Exchange shall not commence trading of the Derivative Securities Product in the Pre-Market Session that day. If an interruption in the calculation or wide dissemination of an applicable Required Value continues, the Exchange may resume trading in the Derivative Securities Product only if calculation and wide dissemination of the applicable Required Value resumes or trading in the Derivative Securities Product resumes in the listing market.
(iv) The Exchange shall declare a Regulatory Halt when the Exchange becomes aware that a security listed on the Exchange fails to comply with Rule 5550(d).
(2) Resumption of Trading After a Regulatory Halt
(A) Resumption of Trading After a Regulatory Halt Other Than a SIP Halt
(i) The Exchange may resume trading after the Exchange receives notification from the Primary Listing Market that the Regulatory Halt has been terminated.
(B) Resumption of Trading After a SIP Halt
(i) For securities subject to a SIP Halt initiated by another exchange that is the Primary Listing Market, during Regular Trading Hours, the Exchange may resume trading after trading has resumed on the Primary Listing Market or notice has been received from the Primary Listing Market that trading may resume. During Regular Trading Hours, if the Primary Listing Market does not open a security within the amount of time specified by the rules of the Primary Listing Market after the SIP Halt Resume Time, the Exchange may resume trading in that security. Outside Regular Trading Hours, the Exchange may resume trading immediately after the SIP Halt Resume Time.
(3) The Exchange will not conduct a halt cross or re-opening cross in a security and will process new and existing orders in a security during a Regulatory Halt as follows:
(A) cancel any unexecuted portion of Midpoint Peg and Midpoint Peg Post-Only Orders;
(B) maintain all other resting Orders in the Exchange Book at their last ranked price and displayed price;
(C) accept and process all cancellations; and
(D) Orders, including Order modifications, entered during the Regulatory Halt will not be accepted.
(c) Operational Halts
(1) Authority to Initiate an Operational Halt. The Exchange may declare an Operational Halt for any security trading on the Exchange:
(A) if it is experiencing Extraordinary Market Activity on the Exchange; or
(B) when otherwise necessary to maintain a fair and orderly market or in the public interest.
(2) Initiating an Operational Halt. The Exchange will notify the SIP if it has concerns about its ability to collect and transmit Quotation Information or Transaction Reports (as those terms are defined in the Nasdaq UTP Plan), or if it has declared an Operational Halt or suspension of trading in one or more Eligible Securities (as that term is defined in the Nasdaq UTP Plan), pursuant to the procedures adopted by the Operating Committee.
(3) Resumption of Trading After an Operational Halt
(A) When the Exchange determines that trading may resume on its market in a fair and orderly manner and in accordance with its Rules it shall resume trading following an Operational Halt.
(B) During any Operational Halt, orders entered will not be accepted, unless subject to instructions that the order will be directed to another exchange as described in Rule 4758.
(C) Communications. Trading in a halted security shall resume at the time specified by the Exchange in a notice. The Exchange will notify all other Plan participants and the SIP using such protocols and other emergency procedures as may be mutually agreed to between the Operating Committee and the Exchange. If the SIP is unable to disseminate notice of an Operational Halt or the Exchange is not open for trading, the Exchange will take reasonable steps to provide notice of an Operational Halt, which shall include both the type and start time of the Operational Halt. Each Plan participant shall continuously monitor communication protocols established by the Operating Committee and the Processor during market hours to disseminate notice of an Operational Halt, and the failure of a participant to do so shall not prevent the Exchange from initiating an Operational Halt in accordance with the procedures specified herein.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended Aug. 25, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-015), operative Jan. 23, 2023; amended Mar. 8, 2023 (SR-BX-2023-007), operative Apr. 7, 2023; amended Aug. 26, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-017), operative Sep. 25, 2025.
(a) The Exchange shall halt trading in all stocks and shall not reopen for the time periods specified in this
Rule if there is a Level 1, 2, or 3 Market Decline.
(i) For purposes of this Rule, a Market Decline means a decline in price of the
S&P 500® Index between 9:30 a.m. EST and 4:00 p.m. EST on a trading day as compared to the closing
price of the S&P 500® Index for the immediately preceding trading day. The Level 1, Level 2, and
Level 3 Market Declines that will be applicable for the trading day will be publicly disseminated before
9:30 a.m. EST.
(ii) A "Level 1 Market Decline" means a Market Decline of 7%.
(iii) A "Level 2 Market Decline" means a Market Decline of 13%.
(iv) A "Level 3 Market Decline" means a Market Decline of 20%.
(b) Halts in Trading.
(i) If a Level 1 Market Decline or a Level 2 Market Decline occurs after 9:30 a.m.
EST and up to and including 3:25 p.m, EST or in the case of an early scheduled close, 12:25 p.m. EST the
Exchange shall halt trading in all stocks for 15 minutes after a Level 1 or Level 2 Market Decline. The
Exchange shall halt trading based on a Level 1 or Level 2 Market Decline only once per trading day. The
Exchange will not halt trading if a Level 1 Market Decline or a Level 2 Market Decline occurs after 3:25
p.m. EST or in the case of an early scheduled close, 12:25 p.m. EST.
(ii) If a Level 3 Market Decline occurs at any time during the trading day, the
Exchange shall halt trading in all stocks for the remainder of the trading day.
(c) Re-opening of Trading
(i) The re-opening of trading following a Level 1 or 2 trading halt shall follow
the procedures set forth in Rule 4120.
(ii) If the primary listing market halts trading in all stocks, the Exchange will
halt trading in those stocks until trading has resumed on the primary listing market or notice has been
received from the primary listing market that trading may resume. If the primary listing market does not
reopen a security within 15 minutes following the end of the 15-minute halt period, the Exchange may resume
trading in that security.
(d) Nothing in this Rule 4121 should be construed to limit the ability of the Exchange to otherwise halt,
suspend, or pause the trading in any stock or stocks traded on the Exchange pursuant to any other Exchange
rule or policy.
(e) Market-Wide Circuit Breaker ("MWCB") Testing
(1) The Exchange will participate in all industry-wide tests of the MWCB mechanism. Members designated pursuant to General 2, Section 12(a) to participate in Exchange Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery testing are required to participate in at least one industry-wide MWCB test each year and to verify their participation in that test by attesting that they are able to or have attempted to:
(A) receive and process MWCB halt messages from the securities information processors ("SIPs");
(B) receive and process resume messages from the SIPs following a MWCB halt;
(C) receive and process market data from the SIPs relevant to MWCB halts; and
(D) send orders following a Level 1 or Level 2 MWCB halt in a manner consistent with their usual trading behavior.
(2) To the extent that a member participating in a MWCB test is unable to receive and process any of the messages identified in paragraph (e)(1)(A)-(D) of this Rule, its attestation should notify the Exchange which messages it was unable to process and if known, why.
(3) Members not designated pursuant to standards established in General 2, Section 12(a) are permitted to participate in any MWCB test.
(f) In the event that a halt is triggered under this Rule following a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 Market Decline, the Exchange, together with other SROs and industry representatives (the "MWCB Working Group"), will review such event. The MWCB Working Group will prepare a report that documents its analysis and recommendations and will provide that report to the Commission within 6 months of the event.
(g) In the event that there is (1) a Market Decline of more than 5%, or (2) an SRO implements a rule that changes its reopening process following a MWCB Halt, the Exchange, together with the MWCB Working Group, will review such event and consider whether any modifications should be made to this Rule. If the MWCB Working Group recommends that a modification should be made to this Rule, the MWCB Working Group will prepare a report that documents its analysis and recommendations and provide that report to the Commission.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended October 6, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-045); amended Mar. 10, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-005); amended Apr. 12, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-007).
References to “CORE FIX” will be implemented in 2026.
(a) Participants may express their trading interest in the Nasdaq BX Equities Market by entering Orders. The
Nasdaq BX Equities Market offers a range of Order Types that behave in the manner specified for each
particular Order Type. Each Order Type may be assigned certain Order Attributes that further define its
behavior. All Order Types and Order Attributes operate in a manner that is reasonably designed to comply
with the requirements of Rules 610 and 611 under Regulation NMS. Each Order must designate whether it is to
effect a buy, a long sale, a short sale, or an exempt short sale.
The Exchange maintains several communications protocols for Participants to use in entering Orders and
sending other messages to the System:
• OUCH is an Exchange proprietary protocol.
• RASH is an Exchange proprietary protocol.
• FLITE is an Exchange proprietary protocol.
• CORE FIX is an Exchange propriety protocol.
• FIX is a non-proprietary protocol.
Except where otherwise stated, all protocols are available for all Order Types and Order Attributes.
Upon entry, an Order is processed to determine whether it may execute against any contra-side Orders on the
Exchange Book in accordance with the parameters applicable to the Order Type and Order Attributes selected
by the Participant and in accordance with the priority for Orders on the Exchange Book provided in Rule
4757. In addition, the Order may have its price adjusted in accordance with applicable parameters and may be
routed to other market centers for potential execution if designated as Routable. The Order may then be
posted to the Exchange Book if consistent with the parameters of the Order Type and Order Attributes
selected by the Participant. Thereafter, as detailed in Rules 4702, 4703, and 4758, there are numerous
circumstances in which the Order on the Exchange Book may be modified and receive a new timestamp. The sole
instances in which the modification of an Order on the Exchange Book will not result in a new timestamp are:
(i) a decrease in the size of the Order due to execution or modification by the Participant or by the
System, and (ii) a redesignation of a sell Order as a long sale, a short sale, or an exempt short sale.
Whenever an Order receives a new timestamp for any reason, it is processed by the System as a new Order with
respect to potential execution against Orders on the Exchange Book, price adjustment, routing, reposting to
the Exchange Book, and subsequent execution against incoming Orders, except where otherwise stated.
All Orders are also subject to cancellation and/or repricing and reentry onto the Exchange Book in the
circumstances described in Rule 4120(b)(1)(A)(i) (providing for compliance with Plan to Address Extraordinary
Market Volatility) and Rule 4763 (providing for compliance with Regulation SHO). In all circumstances where
an Order is repriced pursuant to those provisions, it is processed by the System as a new Order with respect
to potential execution against Orders on the Exchange Book, price adjustment, routing, reposting to the
Exchange Book, and subsequent execution against incoming Orders. If multiple Orders at a given price are
repriced, the Order in which they are reentered is random, based on the respective processing time for each
such Order; provided, however, that in the case of Price to Comply Orders and Post-Only Orders that have
their prices adjusted upon entry because they lock a Protected Quotation but that are subsequently displayed
at their original entered limit price as provided in Rules 4702(b)(1)(B) and (4)(B), they are processed in
accordance with the time priority under which they were previously ranked on the Exchange Book.
(b) Except where stated otherwise, the following Order Types are available to all Participants:
(1)
(A) A "Price to Comply Order" is an Order Type designed to comply with Rule 610(d)
under Regulation NMS by avoiding the display of quotations that lock or cross any Protected Quotation in a
System Security during Market Hours. The Price to Comply Order is also designed to provide potential price
improvement.
When a Price to Comply Order is entered, the Price to Comply Order will be
executed against previously posted Orders on the Exchange Book that are priced equal to or better than the
price of the Price to Comply Order, up to the full amount of such previously posted Orders, unless such
executions would trade through a Protected Quotation. Any portion of the Order that cannot be executed in
this manner will be posted on the Exchange Book (and/or routed if it has been designated as Routable).
During Market Hours, the price at which a Price to Comply Order is posted is
determined in the following manner. If the entered limit price of the Price to Comply Order would lock or
cross a Protected Quotation and the Price to Comply Order could not execute against an Order on the Exchange
Book at a price equal to or better than the price of the Protected Quotation, the Price to Comply Order will
be displayed on the Exchange Book at a price one minimum price increment lower than the current Best Offer
(for a Price to Comply Order to buy) or higher than the current Best Bid (for a Price to Comply Order to
sell) but will also be ranked on the Exchange Book with a non-displayed price equal to the current Best
Offer (for a Price to Comply Order to buy) or to the current Best Bid (for a Price to Comply Order to sell).
For example, if a Price to Comply Order to buy at $11 would lock a Protected Offer of $11, the Price to
Comply Order will be ranked at a non-displayed price of $11 but will be displayed at $10.99. An incoming
Order to sell at a price of $11 or lower would execute against the Price to Comply Order at $11 (unless the
incoming Order was an Order Type that was not immediately executable, in which case the incoming Order would
behave in the manner specified for that Order Type).
During Pre-Market Hours and Post-Market Hours, a Price to Comply Order will be
ranked and displayed at its entered limit price without adjustment.
(B) If a Price to Comply Order is entered through RASH or FIX, during Market Hours
the price of the Price to Comply Order will be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and
posting to the Exchange Book (unless the Order is assigned a Routing Order Attribute that would cause it to
be routed to another market center rather than remaining on the Exchange Book):
• If the entered limit price of the Price to Comply Order locked or crossed
a Protected Quotation and the NBBO changes, the displayed and non-displayed price of the Price to Comply
Order will be adjusted repeatedly in accordance with changes to the NBBO; provided, however, that if the
quotation of another market center moves in a manner that would lock or cross the displayed price of a Price
to Comply Order, the prices of the Price to Comply Order will not be adjusted. For example, if a Price to
Comply Order to buy at $11.02 would cross a Protected Offer of $11, the Order will be ranked at a
non-displayed price of $11 but will be displayed at $10.99. If the Best Offer then moves to $11.01, the
displayed price will be changed to $11 and the Order will be ranked at a non-displayed price of $11.01.
However, if another market center then displays an offer of $11 (thereby locking the previously displayed
price of the Price to Comply Order, notwithstanding Rule 610(d) under Regulation NMS), the price of the
Price to Comply Order will not be changed. The Order may be repriced repeatedly until such time as the Price
to Comply Order is able to be ranked and displayed at its original entered limit price ($11.02 in the
example). The Price to Comply Order receives a new timestamp each time its price is changed.
• If the original entered limit price of the Price to Comply Order would no
longer lock or cross a Protected Quotation, the Price to Comply Order will be ranked and displayed at that
price and will receive a new timestamp, and will not thereafter be adjusted under this paragraph (B).
If a Price to Comply Order is entered through CORE FIX, OUCH or FLITE, during Market Hours
the price of the Price to Comply Order may be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and
posting to the Exchange Book:
• If the entered limit price of the Price to Comply Order crossed a
Protected Quotation and the NBBO changes so that the Price to Comply Order could be displayed at a price at
or closer to its entered limit price without locking or crossing a Protected Quotation, the Price to Comply
Order may either remain on the Exchange Book unchanged or may be cancelled back to the Participant,
depending on its choice. For example, if a Price to Comply Order to buy at $11.02 would cross a Protected
Offer of $11, the Order will be ranked at a non-displayed price of $11 but will be displayed at $10.99. If
the Best Offer changes to $11.01, the Order will not be repriced, but rather will either remain with a
displayed price of $10.99 but ranked at a non-displayed price of $11 or be cancelled back to the
Participant, depending on its choice. A Participant's choice with regard to maintaining the Price to Comply
Order or cancelling it is set in advance for each port through which the Participant enters Orders.
• If the entered limit price of the Price to Comply Order locked a Protected
Quotation, the price of the Price to Comply Order will be adjusted after initial entry only as follows. If
the entered limit price would no longer lock a Protected Quotation, the Price to Comply Order may either
remain on the Exchange Book unchanged, may be cancelled back to the Participant, or may be ranked and
displayed at its original entered limit price, depending on the Participant's choice. For example, if a
Price to Comply Order to buy at $11 would lock a Protected Offer of $11, the Price to Comply Order will be
ranked at a non-displayed price of $11 but will be displayed at $10.99. If the Best Offer changes to $11.01,
the Price to Comply Order may either remain with a displayed price of $10.99 but ranked at a non-displayed
price of $11, be cancelled back to the Participant, or be ranked and displayed at $11, depending on the
Participant's choice. A Participant's choice with regard to maintaining the Price to Comply Order,
cancelling it, or allowing it to be displayed is set in advance for each port through which the Participant
enters Orders. If the Price to Comply Order is ranked and displayed at its original entered limit price, it
will receive a new timestamp, and will not thereafter be adjusted under this paragraph (B).
(C) The following Order Attributes may be assigned to a Price to Comply Order:
• Price. As described above, the price of the Order may be adjusted to avoid
locking or crossing a Protected Quotation, and may include a displayed price as well as a non-displayed
price.
• Size.
• Reserve Size (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• A Time-in-Force other than IOC. (A Price to Comply Order entered with a
Time-in-Force of IOC would be processed as a Non-Displayed Order with a Time-in-Force of IOC).
• Designation as an ISO. In accordance with Regulation NMS, a Price to
Comply Order designated as an ISO would be processed at its entered limit price, since such a designation
reflects a representation by the Participant that it has simultaneously routed one or more additional limit
orders, as necessary, to execute against the full displayed size of any Protected Quotations that the Price
to Comply Order would lock or cross.
• Routing (available through RASH and FIX only).
• Primary Pegging and Market Pegging (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• Discretion (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• Display. A Price to Comply Order is always displayed, although as provided
above, it may also have a non-displayed price and/or Reserve Size.
• Trade Now (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH, FLITE and FIX).
(2)
(A) A "Price to Display Order" is an Order Type designed to comply with Rule
610(d) under Regulation NMS by avoiding the display of quotations that lock or cross any Protected Quotation
in a System Security during Market Hours. Price to Display Orders are available solely to Participants that
are Market Makers.
When a Price to Display Order is entered, if its entered limit price would lock or
cross a Protected Quotation, the Price to Display Order will be repriced to one minimum price increment
lower than the current Best Offer (for a Price to Display Order to buy) or higher than the current Best Bid
(for a Price to Display Order to sell). For example, if a Price to Display Order to buy at $11 would cross a
Protected Offer of $10.99, the Price to Display Order will be repriced to $10.98. The Price to Display Order
(whether repriced or not repriced) will then be executed against previously posted Orders on the Exchange
Book that are priced equal to or better than the adjusted price of the Price to Display Order, up to the
full amount of such previously posted Orders, unless such executions would trade through a Protected
Quotation. Any portion of the Order that cannot be executed in this manner will be posted on the Exchange
Book (and/or routed if it has been designated as Routable).
During Market Hours, the price at which a Price to Display Order is displayed and
ranked on the Exchange Book will be its entered limit price if the Price to Display Order was not repriced
upon entry, or the adjusted price if the Price to Display Order was repriced upon entry, such that the price
will not lock or cross a Protected Quotation.
During Pre-Market Hours and Post-Market Hours, a Price to Display Order will be
displayed and ranked at its entered limit price without adjustment.
(B) If a Price to Display Order is entered through RASH or FIX, during Market
Hours the Price to Display Order may be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to
the Exchange Book (unless the Order is assigned a Routing Order Attribute that would cause it to be routed
to another market center rather than remaining on the Exchange Book):
• If the entered limit price of the Price to Display Order locked or crossed
a Protected Quotation and the NBBO changes, the price of the Order will be adjusted repeatedly in accordance
with changes to the NBBO; provided, however, that if the quotation of another market center moves in a
manner that would lock or cross the price of a Price to Display Order, the price of the Price to Display
Order will not be adjusted. For example, if a Price to Display Order to buy at $11.02 would cross a
Protected Offer of $11, the Order will be displayed and ranked at $10.99. If the Best Offer then moves to
$11.01, the displayed/ranked price will be changed to $11. However, if another market center then displays
an offer of $11 (thereby locking the previously displayed price of the Price to Display Order,
notwithstanding Rule 610(d) under Regulation NMS), the price of the Price to Display Order will not be
changed. The Order may be repriced repeatedly until such time as the Price to Display Order is able to be
displayed and ranked at its original entered limit price ($11.02 in the example). The Price to Display Order
receives a new timestamp each time its price is changed.
• If the original entered limit price of the Price to Display Order would no
longer lock or cross a Protected Quotation, the Price to Display Order will be displayed and ranked at that
price and will receive a new timestamp, and will not thereafter be adjusted under this paragraph (B).
If a Price to Display Order is entered through CORE FIX, OUCH or FLITE, during Market Hours
the Price to Display Order may be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to the
Exchange Book:
• If the entered limit price of the Price to Display Order locked or crossed
a Protected Quotation and the NBBO changes so that the Price to Display Order could be ranked and displayed
at a price at or closer to its original entered limit price without locking or crossing a Protected
Quotation, the Price to Display Order may either remain on the Exchange Book unchanged or may be cancelled
back to the Participant, depending on the Participant's choice. For example, if a Price to Display Order to
buy at $11.02 would cross a Protected Offer of $11, the Order will be ranked and displayed at $10.99. If the
Best Offer changes to $11.01, the Price to Display Order will not be repriced, but rather will either remain
at its current price or be cancelled back to the Participant, depending on its choice. A Participant's
choice with regard to maintaining the Price to Display Order or cancelling it is set in advance for each
port through which the Participant enters Orders.
(C) The following Order Attributes may be assigned to a Price to Display Order:
• Price. As described above, the price of the Order may be adjusted to avoid
locking or crossing a Protected Quotation.
• Size.
• Reserve Size (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• A Time-in-Force other than IOC. (A Price to Display Order entered with a
Time-in-Force of IOC would be processed as a Non-Displayed Order with a Time-in-Force of IOC).
• Designation as an ISO. In accordance with Regulation NMS, a Price to
Display Order designated as an ISO would be processed at its entered limit price, since such a designation
reflects a representation by the Participant that it has simultaneously routed one or more additional limit
orders, as necessary, to execute against the full displayed size of any Protected Quotations that the Price
to Display Order would lock or cross.
• Routing (available through RASH and FIX only).
• Primary Pegging and Market Pegging (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• Discretion (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• Attribution. All Price to Display Orders are Attributable Orders.
• Display. A Price to Display Order is always displayed (but may also have
Reserve Size).
(3)
(A) A "Non-Displayed Order" is an Order Type that is not displayed to other
Participants, but nevertheless remains available for potential execution against incoming Orders until
executed in full or cancelled. In addition to the Non-Displayed Order Type, there are other Order Types that
are not displayed on the Exchange Book. Thus, "Non- Display" is both a specific Order Type and an Order
Attribute of certain other Order Types.
When a Non-Displayed Order is entered, the Non-Displayed Order will be executed
against previously posted Orders on the Exchange Book that are priced equal to or better than the price of
the Non-Displayed Order, up to the full amount of such previously posted Orders, unless such executions
would trade through a Protected Quotation. Any portion of the Non-Displayed Order that cannot be executed in
this manner will be posted to the Exchange Book (unless the Non-Displayed Order has a Time-in-Force of IOC)
and/or routed if it has been designated as Routable.
During Market Hours, the price at which a Non-Displayed Order is posted is
determined in the following manner. If the entered limit price of the Non-Displayed Order would lock a
Protected Quotation, the Non-Displayed Order will be placed on the Exchange Book at the locking price. If
the Non-Displayed Order would cross a Protected Quotation, the Non-Displayed Order will be repriced to a
price that would lock the Protected Quotation and will be placed on the Exchange Book at that price. For
example, if a Non-Displayed Order to buy at $11 would cross a Protected Offer of $10.99, the Non-Displayed
Order will be repriced and posted at $10.99. A Non-Displayed Order to buy at $10.99 would also be posted at
$10.99.
During Pre-Market Hours and Post-Market Hours, a Non-Displayed Order will be
posted at its entered limit price without adjustment.
(B) If a Non-Displayed Order is entered through RASH or FIX, during Market Hours
the Non-Displayed Order may be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to the
Exchange Book (unless the Order is assigned a Routing Order Attribute that would cause it to be routed to
another market center rather than remaining on the Exchange Book):
• If the original entered limit price of a Non-Displayed Order is higher
than the Best Offer (for an Order to buy) or lower than the Best Bid (for an Order to sell) and the NBBO
moves toward the original entered limit price of the Non-Displayed Order, the price of the Non-Displayed
Order will be adjusted repeatedly in accordance with changes to the NBBO. For example, if a Non-Displayed
Order to buy at $11.02 would cross a Protected Offer of $11, the Non-Displayed Order will be priced and
posted at $11. If the Best Offer then changes to $11.01, the price of the Non-Displayed Order will be
changed to $11.01. The Order may be repriced repeatedly in this manner, receiving a new timestamp each time
its price is changed, until the Non-Displayed Order is posted at its original entered limit price. The
Non-Displayed Order will not thereafter be repriced under this paragraph (B), except as provided below with
respect to crossing a Protected Quotation.
• If, after being posted to the Exchange Book, the NBBO changes so that the
Non- Displayed Order would cross a Protected Quotation, the Non-Displayed Order will be repriced at a price
that would lock the new NBBO and receive a new timestamp. For example, if a Non-Displayed Order to buy at
$11 would lock a Protected Offer of $11, the Non-Displayed Order will be posted at $11. If the Best Offer
then changes to $10.99, the Non-Displayed Order will be repriced at $10.99, receiving a new timestamp. The
Non-Displayed Order may be repriced and receive a new timestamp repeatedly.
If a Non-Displayed Order is entered through CORE FIX, OUCH or FLITE, during Market Hours the
Non-Displayed Order may be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to the Exchange
Book:
• If the original entered limit price of the Non-Displayed Order locked or
crossed a Protected Quotation and the NBBO changes so that the Non-Displayed Order could be posted at a
price at or closer to its original entered limit price without crossing a Protected Quotation, the
Non-Displayed Order may either remain on the Exchange Book unchanged or may be cancelled back to the
Participant, depending on its choice. For example, if a Non-Displayed Order to buy at $11.02 would cross a
Protected Offer of $11, the Order will be priced at $11. If the Best Offer changes to $11.01, the Order will
not be repriced, but rather will either remain at its current $11 price or be cancelled back to the
Participant, depending on its choice. A Participant's choice with regard to maintaining the Non- Displayed
Order or cancelling it is set in advance for each port through which the Participant enters Orders.
• If, after a Non-Displayed Order is posted to the Exchange Book, the NBBO
changes so that the Non-Displayed Order would cross a Protected Quotation, the Non-Displayed Order will be
cancelled back to the Participant. For example, if a Non-Displayed Order to buy at $11 would lock a
Protected Offer of $11, the Non- Displayed Order will be posted at $11. If the Best Offer then changes to
$10.99, the Non-Displayed Order will be cancelled back to the Participant.
(C) The following Order Attributes may be assigned to a Non-Displayed Order:
• Price. As described above, the price of the Order may be adjusted to avoid
crossing a Protected Quotation.
• Size.
• Minimum Quantity.
• Time-in-Force.
• Designation as an ISO. In accordance with Regulation NMS, a Non-Displayed
Order designated as an ISO would be processed at its entered limit price, since such a designation reflects
a representation by the Participant that it has simultaneously routed one or more additional limit orders,
as necessary, to execute against the full displayed size of any Protected Quotations that the Non- Displayed
Order would cross. As discussed above, a Non-Displayed Order would be accepted at a price that locked a
Protected Quotation, even if the Order was not designated as an ISO, because the non-displayed nature of the
Order allows it to lock a Protected Quotation under Regulation NMS. Accordingly, the System would not
interpret receipt of a Non-Displayed Order marked ISO that locked a Protected Quotation as the basis for
determining that the Protected Quotation had been executed for purposes of accepting additional Orders at
that price level.
• Routing (available through RASH and FIX only).
• Primary Pegging and Market Pegging (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• Pegging to the Midpoint (see Rule 4703(d) with respect to differences
in behavior that occurs in various scenarios involving Non-Displayed Orders with Midpoint Pegging).
• Discretion (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• Trade Now (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH, FLITE and FIX).
(4)
(A) A "Post-Only Order" is an Order Type designed to have its price adjusted as
needed to post to the Exchange Book in compliance with Rule 610(d) under Regulation NMS by avoiding the
display of quotations that lock or cross any Protected Quotation in a System Security during Market Hours,
or to execute against locking or crossing quotations in circumstances where economically beneficial to the
Participant entering the Post-Only Order.
During Market Hours, a Post-Only Order is evaluated at the time of entry with
respect to locking or crossing other Orders on the Exchange Book, Protected Quotations, and potential
execution as follows:
• If a Post-Only Order would lock or cross a Protected Quotation, the price
of the Order will first be adjusted. If the Order is Attributable, its adjusted price will be one minimum
price increment lower than the current Best Offer (for bids) or higher than the current Best Bid (for
offers). If the Order is not Attributable, its adjusted price will be equal to the current Best Offer (for
bids) or the current Best Bid (for offers). However, the Order will not post or execute until the Order, as
adjusted, is evaluated with respect to Orders on the Exchange Book.
— If the adjusted price of the Post-Only Order would not lock or cross an
Order on the Exchange Book, the Order will be posted in the same manner as a Price to Comply Order (if it is
not Attributable) or a Price to Display Order (if it is Attributable). Specifically, if the Post-Only Order
is not Attributable, it will be displayed on the Exchange Book at a price one minimum price increment lower
than the current Best Offer (for bids) or higher than the current Best Bid (for offers) but will be ranked
on the Exchange Book with a non-displayed price equal to the current Best Offer (for bids) or to the current
Best Bid (for offers). For example, if a Post- Only Order to buy at $11 would lock a Protected Offer of $11,
the Order will be ranked at a non-displayed price of $11 but will be displayed at $10.99. If the Post-Only
Order is Attributable, it will be ranked and displayed on the Exchange Book at a price one minimum increment
lower than the current Best Offer (for bids) or higher than the current Best Bid (for offers). Thus, in the
preceding example, the Post-Only Order to buy would be ranked and displayed at $10.99.
— If the adjusted price of the Post-Only Order would lock or cross a
displayed Order at its displayed price on the Exchange Book, the Post Only Order will be repriced, ranked,
and displayed at one minimum price increment below the current best-priced displayed Order to sell on the
Exchange Book (for bids) or above the current best-priced displayed Order to buy on the Exchange Book (for
offers); provided, however, the Post-Only Order will execute if (i) it is priced at $1.00 or more, or (ii)
it is priced below $1.00 and the value of price improvement associated with executing against an Order on
the Exchange Book (as measured against the original limit price of the Order) equals or exceeds the sum of
fees charged for such execution and the value of any rebate that would be provided if the Order posted to
the Exchange Book and subsequently provided liquidity. For example, if a Participant entered a
Non-Attributable Post-Only Order to buy at $11.01, another market center is displaying a Protected Offer at
$11, and there is an Order on the Exchange Book to sell at $11, the adjusted price of the Post-Only Order
will be $11. However, because the Post-Only Order would be executable against the Order on the Exchange
Book, the Post-Only Order would execute.
— If the adjusted price of the Post-Only Order would lock or cross a
nondisplayed price on the Exchange Book, the Post-Only Order will be posted in the same manner as a Price to
Comply Order; provided, however, the Post-Only Order will execute if (i) it is priced at $1.00 or more, or
(ii) it is priced below $1.00 and the value of price improvement associated with executing against an Order
on the Exchange Book (as measured against the original limit price of the Order) equals or exceeds the sum
of fees charged for such execution and the value of any rebate that would be provided if the Order posted to
the Exchange Book and subsequently provided liquidity. For example, if a Participant entered a
Non-Attributable Post-Only Order to buy at $11.01, another market center is displaying a Protected Offer at
$11, and there is a Non-Displayed Order on the Exchange Book to sell at $11, the adjusted price of the
Post-Only Order will be $11. However, because the Post-Only Order would be executable against the Non-
Displayed Order on the Exchange Book, the Post-Only Order would execute.
• If the Post-Only Order would not lock or cross a Protected Quotation but
would lock or cross a displayed Order at its displayed price on the Exchange Book, the Post Only Order will
be repriced, ranked, and displayed at one minimum price increment below the current best-priced Order to
sell on the Exchange Book (for bids) or above the current best-priced Order to buy on the Exchange Book (for
offers); provided, however, the Post-Only Order will execute if (i) it is priced at $1.00 or more, or (ii)
it is priced below $1.00 and the value of price improvement associated with executing against an Order on
the Exchange Book (as measured against the original limit price of the Order) equals or exceeds the sum of
fees charged for such execution and the value of any rebate that would be provided if the Order posted to
the Exchange Book and subsequently provided liquidity. For example, if a Participant entered a Post-Only
Order to buy at $11.02, the Best Offer on an away exchange was $11.04 , and there was a Displayed Order on
the Exchange Book to sell at $11.02, the Post-Only Order would execute.
• If the Post-Only Order would not lock or cross a Protected Quotation but
would lock or cross a non-displayed Order on the Exchange Book, the Post- Only Order will be posted, ranked,
and displayed at its limit price; provided, however, the Post- Only Order will execute if (i) it is priced
at $1.00 or more, or (ii) it is priced below $1.00 and the value of price improvement associated with
executing against an Order on the Exchange Book equals or exceeds the sum of fees charged for such execution
and the value of any rebate that would be provided if the Order posted to the Exchange Book and subsequently
provided liquidity. For example, if a Participant entered a Post-Only Order to buy at $0.95, the Best Offer
was $0.97, and there was a Non-Displayed Order on the Exchange Book to sell at $0.95, the Post-Only Order
would be ranked and displayed at $0.95.
• If a Post-Only Order is entered with a Time-in-Force of IOC, the Order
will be evaluated for possible execution in the same manner as any other Post-Only Order but will be
cancelled rather than posted if the Order cannot execute.
• If a Post-Only Order would not lock or cross an Order on the Exchange Book
or any Protected Quotation, it will be posted on the Exchange Book at its entered limit price.
During Pre-Market and Post-Market Hours, a Post-Only Order will be processed in a
manner identical to Market Hours with respect to locking or crossing Orders on the Exchange Book, but will
not have its price adjusted with respect to locking or crossing the quotations of other market centers.
(B) If a Post-Only Order is entered through RASH or FIX, during System Hours the
Post- Only Order may be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to the Exchange
Book:
• If the original entered limit price of the Post-Only Order is not being
displayed, the displayed price (and non-displayed price, if any) of the Order will be adjusted repeatedly in
accordance with changes to the NBBO or the best price on the Exchange Book, as applicable; provided,
however, that if the quotation of another market center moves in a manner that would lock or cross the
displayed price of a Post-Only Order, the price(s) of the Post-Only Order will not be adjusted. For example,
if a Non-Attributable Post-Only Order to buy at $11.02 would cross a Protected Offer of $11, the Order will
be ranked at a non-displayed price of $11 but will be displayed at $10.99. If the Best Offer then moves to
$11.01, the displayed price will be changed to $11 and the non-displayed price at which the Order is ranked
will be changed to $11.01. However, if another market center then displays an offer of $11 (thereby locking
the previously displayed price of the Post-Only Order notwithstanding Rule 610(d) under Regulation NMS), the
price of the Post-Only Order will not be changed. The Order may be repriced repeatedly until such time as
the Post-Only Order is able to be displayed at its original entered limit price ($11.02 in the example). The
Post-Only Order receives a new timestamp each time its price is changed.
• If the original entered limit price of the Post-Only Order would no longer
lock or cross a Protected Quotation or a displayed Order on the Exchange Book, the Post-Only Order will be
ranked and displayed at that price and will receive a new timestamp, and will not thereafter be adjusted
under this paragraph (B).
If a Post-Only Order is entered through CORE FIX, OUCH or FLITE, the Post-Only Order may be
adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to the Exchange Book:
• During Market Hours, if the original entered limit price of the Post-Only
Order locked or crossed a Protected Quotation, the Post-Only Order may be adjusted after initial entry in
the same manner as a Price to Comply Order (or a Price to Display Order, if it is Attributable). Thus, in
the case of a Non-Attributable Post- Only Order that crossed a Protected Quotation, if the NBBO changed so
that the Post-Only Order could be ranked and displayed at a price at or closer to its original entered limit
price without locking or crossing a Protected Quotation, the Post-Only Order may either remain on the
Exchange Book unchanged or may be cancelled back to the Participant, depending on its choice. In the case of
a Non- Attributable Post-Only Order that locked a Protected Quotation, if the limit price would no longer
lock a Protected Quotation, the Post-Only Order may either remain on the Exchange Book unchanged, may be
cancelled back to the Participant, or may be ranked and displayed at its original entered limit price,
depending on the Participant's choice, and will not thereafter be adjusted under this paragraph (B). If the
Post-Only Order is displayed at its original entered limit price, it will receive a new timestamp. Finally,
in the case of an Attributable Post-Only Order that locked or crossed a Protected Quotation, if the NBBO
changed so that the Post-Only Order could be ranked and displayed at a price at or closer to its original
entered limit price without locking or crossing a Protected Quotation, the Post-Only Order may either remain
on the Exchange Book unchanged or may be cancelled back to the Participant, depending on the Participant's
choice. A Participant's choice with regard to adjustment of Post-Only Orders is set in advance for each port
through which the Participant enters Orders.
• During System Hours, if the original entered limit price of the Post-Only
Order locked or crossed a displayed Order on the Exchange Book and the Exchange Book changes so that the
original entered limit price would no longer lock or cross an Order on the Exchange Book, the Post-Only
Order may either remain on the Exchange Book unchanged or may be cancelled back to the Participant,
depending on the Participant's choice. For example, if a Post-Only Order to buy at $0.98 would lock a
displayed Order on the Exchange Book priced at $0.98, the Post- Only Order will be ranked and displayed at
$0.9799. If the Order at $0.98 is cancelled or executed, the Post-Only Order may either remain with a
displayed price of $0.9799 or be cancelled back to the Participant, depending on the Participant's choice. A
Participant's choice with regard to maintaining the Post- Only Order or cancelling it is set in advance for
each port through which the Participant enters Orders.
(C) The following Order Attributes may be assigned to a Post-Only Order:
• Price. As described above, the price of the Order may be adjusted to avoid
locking or crossing a Protected Quotation, and may include a displayed price as well as a non-displayed
price.
• Size.
• Time-in-Force; provided, however, that a Post-Only Order with a
Time-in-Force of IOC may not be entered through CORE FIX, RASH or FIX.
• Designation as an ISO. In accordance with Regulation NMS, a Post-Only
Order designated as an ISO that locked or crossed a Protected Quotation would be processed at its entered
limit price, since such a designation reflects a representation by the Participant that it has
simultaneously routed one or more additional limit orders, as necessary, to execute against the full
displayed size of any Protected Quotations that the Post-Only Order would lock or cross. However, as
described above, a Post-Only Order designated as an ISO that locked or crossed an Order on the Exchange Book
would either execute at time of entry, post at its limit price, or would have its price adjusted prior to
posting. Accordingly, the System would not interpret receipt of a Post-Only Order marked ISO that had its
price adjusted prior to posting as the basis for determining that any Protected Quotation at the Order's
original entered limit price level had been executed for purposes of accepting additional Orders at that
price level. However, if the Post-Only Order is ranked and displayed at its adjusted price, the System would
consider the adjusted price level to be open for purposes of accepting additional Orders at that price
level. For example, assume that there is a Protected Offer at $0.98 and a Participant enters a Post-Only
Order marked ISO to buy at $0.98. If there are no Orders to sell at $0.98 on the Exchange Book, the Order to
buy will be displayed and ranked at $0.98, since the designation of the Order as an ISO reflects the
Participant's representation that it has routed one or more additional limit orders, as necessary, to
execute against the full displayed size of any Protected Quotations that the Post-Only Order would lock or
cross. However, if there was also a displayed Order to sell at $0.98 on the Exchange Book, the Post-Only
Order may be repriced, ranked, and displayed at $0.9799. In that case, the mere fact that the Post-Only
Order was designated as an ISO would not allow the Exchange to conclude that the $0.98 price level was
"open" for receiving orders to buy at that price; the $0.98 price level would be considered open only if
market data received by the System demonstrated that the Protected Offer at $0.98 had been removed or if a
subsequent Displayed Order marked ISO was received and ranked at that price.
• Attribution.
• Display. A Post-Only Order is always displayed, although as provided
above, may also have a non-displayed price.
(5)
(A) A "Retail Price Improving Order" or "RPI Order" is an Order Type with a Non-
Display Order Attribute that is held on the Exchange Book in order to provide liquidity at a price at least
$0.001 better than the NBBO through a special execution process described in Rule 4780. A Retail Price
Improving Order may be entered in price increments of $0.001. RPI Orders collectively may be referred to as
"RPI Interest."
An RPI Order will be posted to the Exchange Book regardless of its price, but an
RPI Order may execute only against a Retail Order, and only if its price is at least $0.001 better than the
NBBO.
(B) If an RPI Order is entered through RASH or FIX, during Market Hours the RPI Order may be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to the Exchange Book:
• If the original entered limit price of an RPI Order is higher than the Best Offer (for an Order to buy) or lower than the Best Bid (for an Order to sell) and the NBBO moves toward the original entered limit price of the RPI Order, the price of the RPI Order will be adjusted repeatedly in accordance with changes to the NBBO. For example, if an RPI Order to buy at $11.02 would cross a Protected Offer of $11, the RPI Order will be priced and posted at $11. If the Best Offer then changes to $11.01, the price of the RPI Order will be changed to $11.01. The Order may be repriced repeatedly in this manner, receiving a new timestamp each time its price is changed, until the RPI Order is posted at its original entered limit price. The RPI Order will not thereafter be repriced under this paragraph (B), except as provided below with respect to crossing a Protected Quotation.
• If, after being posted to the Exchange Book, the NBBO changes so that the RPI Order would cross a Protected Quotation, the RPI Order will be repriced at a price that would lock the new NBBO and receive a new timestamp. For example, if an RPI Order to buy at $11 would lock a Protected Offer of $11, the RPI Order will be posted at $11. If the Best Offer then changes to $10.99, the RPI Order will be repriced at $10.99, receiving a new timestamp. The RPI Order may be repriced and receive a new timestamp repeatedly.
If an RPI Order is entered through CORE FIX, OUCH or FLITE, during Market Hours the RPI Order may be adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to the Exchange Book:
• If the original entered limit price of the RPI Order locked or crossed a Protected Quotation and the NBBO changes so that the RPI Order could be posted at a price at or closer to its original entered limit price without crossing a Protected Quotation, the RPI Order may either remain on the Exchange Book unchanged or may be cancelled back to the Participant, depending on its choice. For example, if an RPI Order to buy at $11.02 would cross a Protected Offer of $11, the Order will be priced at $11. If the Best Offer changes to $11.01, the Order will not be repriced, but rather will either remain at its current $11 price or be cancelled back to the Participant, depending on its choice. A Participant's choice with regard to maintaining the RPI Order or cancelling it is set in advance for each port through which the Participant enters Orders.
• If, after an RPI Order is posted to the Exchange Book, the NBBO changes so that the RPI Order would cross a Protected Quotation, the RPI Order will be cancelled back to the Participant. For example, if an RPI Order to buy at $11 would lock a Protected Offer of $11, the RPI Order will be posted at $11. If the Best Offer then changes to $10.99, the RPI Order will be cancelled back to the Participant.
(C) The following Order Attributes may be assigned to an RPI Order:
• Price. The price of an RPI Order must be at least $0.001 better than the
NBBO in order to execute.
• Size.
• A Time-in-Force other than IOC.
• Primary Pegging (available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH and FIX only).
• Non-Display. All RPI Orders are Non-Displayed.
(6)
(A) A "Retail Order" is an Order Type with a Non-Display Order Attribute submitted
to the Exchange by a Retail Member Organization (as defined in Rule 4780). A Retail Order must be an agency
Order, or riskless principal Order that satisfies the criteria of FINRA Rule 5320.03. The Retail Order must
reflect trading interest of a natural person with no change made to the terms of the underlying order of the
natural person with respect to price (except in the case of a market order that is changed to a marketable
limit order) or side of market and that does not originate from a trading algorithm or any other
computerized methodology.
A Retail Order may be designated as either a Type-1 Retail Order or a Type-2
Retail Order. Upon entry, a Type-1 Retail Order will attempt to execute against RPI Orders and any other
Orders on the Exchange Book with a price that is (i) equal to or better than the price of the Type-1 Retail
Order and (ii) at least $0.001 better than the NBBO. A Type-1 Retail Order is not Routable and will
thereafter be cancelled.
Upon entry, a Type-2 Retail Order will first attempt to execute against RPI Orders
and any other Orders on the Exchange Book with a price that is (i) equal to or better than the price of the
Type-2 Retail Order and (ii) at least $0.001 better than the NBBO and will then attempt to execute against
any other Order on the Exchange Book with a price that is equal to or better than the price of the Type-2
Retail Order, unless such executions would trade through a Protected Quotation. A Type-2 Retail Order may be
designated as Routable.
(B) The following Order Attributes may be assigned to a Retail Order:
• Price.
• Size.
• A Time-in-Force of IOC.
• Routing (available through RASH or FIX only).
• Non-Display. All Retail Orders are Non-Displayed.
(7)
(A) A "Market Maker Peg Order" is an Order Type designed to allow a Market Maker
to maintain a continuous two-sided quotation at a displayed price that is compliant with the quotation
requirements for Market Makers set forth in Equity 2, Section 5(a)(2). The displayed price of the Market
Maker Peg Order is set with reference to a "Reference Price" in order to keep the displayed price of the
Market Maker Peg Order within a bounded price range. A Market Maker Peg Order may be entered through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH or
FIX only. A Market Maker Peg Order must be entered with a limit price beyond which the Order may not be
priced. The Reference Price for a Market Maker Peg Order to buy (sell) is the then-current National Best Bid
(National Best Offer), including BX, or if no such National Best Bid or National Best Offer, the most recent
reported last-sale eligible trade from the responsible single plan processor for that day, or if none, the
previous closing price of the security as adjusted to reflect any corporate actions (e.g., dividends or
stock splits) in the security.
Upon entry, the displayed price of a Market Maker Peg Order to buy (sell) is
automatically set by the System at the Designated Percentage (as defined in Equity 2, Section 5) away from
the Reference Price in order to comply with the quotation requirements for Market Makers set forth in Equity
2, Section 5(a)(2). For example, if the National Best Bid is $10 and the Designated Percentage for the
security is 8%, the displayed price of a Market Marker Peg Order to buy would be $9.20. If the limit price
of the Order is not within the Designated Percentage, the Order will be sent back to the Participant.
Once a Market Maker Peg Order has posted to the BX Book, it is repriced if needed
as the Reference Price changes. Specifically, if as a result of a change to the Reference Price, the
difference between the displayed price of the Market Maker Peg Order and the Reference Price exceeds the
Defined Limit (as defined in Equity 2, Section 5), the Market Maker Peg Order to buy (sell) will be repriced
to the Designated Percentage away from the Reference Price. In the foregoing example, if the Defined Limit
is 9.5% and the National Best Bid increased to $10.17, such that the displayed price of the Market Maker Peg
Order would be more than 9.5% away, the Order will be repriced to $9.36, or 8% away from the National Best
Bid. Note that prices will be rounded in a manner to ensure that they are calculated and displayed at a
level that is consistent with the Designated Percentage and the permissible minimum increment of $0.01 or
$0.0001, as applicable. If the limit price of the Order is not within the Designated Percentage, the Order
will be sent back to the Participant.
Similarly, if as a result of a change to the Reference Price, the displayed price
of a Market Maker Peg Order to buy (sell) is at least one minimum price variation more than (less than) a
price that is 4% less than (more than) the Reference Price, rounded up (down), then the Market Maker Peg
Order to buy (sell) will be repriced to the Designated Percentage away from the Reference Price. For
example, if the National Best Bid is $10 and the Designated Percentage for the security is 8%, the displayed
price of a Market Marker Peg Order to buy would initially be $9.20. If the National Best Bid then moved to
$9.57, such that the displayed price of the Market Maker Peg Order would be a minimum of $0.01 more than a
price that is 4% less than the National Best Bid, rounded up (i.e. $9.57 - ($9.57 x 0.04) = $9.1872,
rounding up to $9.19), the Order will be repriced to $8.81, or 8% away from the National Best Bid.
Market Maker Peg Orders entered with a pegging offset will not be accepted.
A new timestamp is created for a Market Maker Peg Order each time that it is
repriced. In the absence of a Reference Price, a Market Maker Peg Order will be cancelled (if on the BX
Book) or rejected (if it is an incoming Order). If, after entry, a Market Maker Peg Order has a displayed
price based on a Reference Price other than the National Best Bid or National Best Offer and such Market
Maker Peg Order is established as the National Best Bid or National Best Offer, the Market Maker Peg Order
will not be subsequently repriced in accordance with this rule until a new Reference Price is established.
Additionally, if after entry, a Market Maker Peg Order of round lot size has a displayed price based on the NBBO, and the NBBO
subsequently shifts such that the displayed price of the Market Maker Peg Order to buy (sell) is equal to or
greater (less) than the National Best Bid (or National Best Offer), the Market Maker Peg Order will not be
subsequently repriced in accordance with this Rule until a new Reference Price is established that is more
aggressive than the displayed price of the Market Maker Peg Order. In such cases, the new Reference Price
may be established by a change in the National Best Bid or National Best Offer based on another market
center's quotation or by the entry into the System of any Displayed Order with a price better than the
displayed price of the Market Maker Peg Order, whether the new Order is at a price that is lower than,
higher than or equal to the prior Reference Price.
Notwithstanding the availability of Market Maker Peg Order functionality, a Market
Maker remains responsible for entering, monitoring, and resubmitting, as applicable, quotations that meet
the requirements of Equity 2, Section 5.
(B) The following Order Attributes may be assigned to a Market Maker Peg Order:
• Price. The displayed price of a Market Maker Peg Order is established by
the BX System based on the Reference Price, the Designated Percentage, the Defined Limit, and the 4% minimum
difference from the Reference Price.
• Size.
• A Time-in-Force other than IOC.
• Attribution. All Market Maker Peg Orders are Attributable.
• Display. Market Marker Peg Orders are always Displayed.
Amended Nov. 25, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-034). operative Feb. 4, 2021; amended Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended Aug. 25, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-015), operative Jan. 23, 2023; amended Mar. 8, 2023 (SR-BX-2023-007), operative Apr. 7, 2023; amended Sep. 5, 2023 (SR-BX-2023-023), operative Oct. 4, 2023; amended Apr. 26, 2024 (SR-BX-2024-013), operative May 25, 2024; amended Aug. 26, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-017), operative Sep. 25, 2025; amended Nov. 24, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-029), operative Jan. 5, 2026; amended Dec. 12, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-033), operative Jan. 11, 2026.
References to “CORE FIX” will be implemented in 2026.
As described in Rule 4702, the following Order Attributes may be assigned to those Order Types for which they
are available.
(a) Time-in-Force
The "Time-in-Force" assigned to an Order means the period of time that the System will hold the Order for
potential execution. Participants specify an Order's Time-in-Force by designating a time at which the Order
will become active and a time at which the Order will cease to be active. The available times for activating
Orders are:
• The time of the Order's receipt by the System;
• the beginning of Market Hours;
• the end of Market Hours;
• the resumption of trading, in the case of a security that is the subject of
a trading halt.
The available times for deactivating Orders are:
• "Immediate" (i.e., immediately after determining whether the Order is
marketable);
• the end of Market Hours;
• the end of System Hours;
or
• a specific time identified by the Participant; provided, however, that an
Order specifying an expire time beyond the current trading day will be cancelled at the end of the current
trading day.
Notwithstanding the Time-in-Force originally designated for an Order, a Participant may always cancel an
Order after it is entered.
The following Times-in-Force are referenced elsewhere in the Exchange's Rules by the designations noted
below:
(1) An Order that is designated to deactivate immediately after determining
whether the Order is marketable may be referred to as having a Time in Force of "Immediate or Cancel" or
"IOC". An Order with a Time-in-Force of IOC that is entered at any time between 7:00 a.m. ET and 7:00 p.m.
ET may be referred to as having a Time-in-Force of "System Hours Immediate or Cancel" or "SIOC".
(2) An Order that is designated to deactivate at 7:00 p.m. may be referred to as
having a Time in Force of "System Hours Day" or "SDAY".
(3) Reserved.
(4) An Order that is designated to deactivate at the time specified in advance by
the entering Participant may be referred to as having a Time-in-Force of "System Hours Expire Time" or
"SHEX".
(5) An Order that is designated to activate at any time during Market Hours and
deactivate at 4:00 p.m. ET may be referred to as having a Time-in-Force of "Market Hours Day" or "MDAY". An
Order entered with a Time-in-Force of MDAY after 4:00 p.m. ET will be accepted but given a Time-in-Force of
IOC.
(6) An Order that is designated to activate when entered and deactivate at 4:00
p.m. ET may be referred to as having a Time-in-Force of "Good-till-Market Close" or "GTMC". GTMC Orders
entered after 4:00 p.m. ET will not be accepted.
(b) Size. Except as otherwise provided, an Order may be entered in any whole share size between one share and
999,999 shares. Orders for fractional shares are not permitted. The following terms may be used to describe
particular Order sizes:
(1) "normal unit of trading" or "round lot" means the size generally employed by
traders when trading a particular security, which is 100 shares in most instances;
(2) "mixed lot" means a size of more than one normal unit of trading but not a
multiple thereof; and
(3) "odd lot" means a size of less than one normal unit of trading.
(c) Price. With limited exceptions, all Orders must have a price, such that they will execute only if the
price available is equal to or better than the price of the Order. The maximum price that the System will
accept is $199,999.99. Certain Orders have a price that is determined by the System based on the NBBO or
other reference prices, rather than by the Participant. As described below with respect to the Pegging Order
Attribute, an Order may have a price that is pegged to the opposite side of the market, in which case the
Order will behave like a "market order" or "unpriced order" (i.e., an Order that executes against accessible
liquidity on the opposite side of the market, regardless of its price).
(d) Pegging. Pegging is an Order Attribute that allows an Order to have its price automatically set with
reference to the NBBO; provided, however, that if the Exchange is the sole market center at the Best Bid or
Best Offer (as applicable), then the price of any Displayed Order with Primary Pegging (as defined below)
will be set with reference to the highest bid or lowest offer disseminated by a market center other than the
Exchange. An Order with a Pegging Order Attribute may be referred to as a "Pegged Order." For purposes of
this rule, the price to which an Order is pegged will be referred to as the Inside Quotation, the Inside
Bid, or the Inside Offer, as appropriate. There are three varieties of Pegging:
• Primary Pegging means Pegging with reference to the Inside Quotation on the
same side of the market. For example, if the Inside Bid was $11, an Order to buy with Primary Pegging would
be priced at $11.
• Market Pegging means Pegging with reference to the Inside Quotation on the
opposite side of the market. For example, if the Inside Offer was $11.06, an Order to buy with Market
Pegging would be priced at $11.06.
• Midpoint Pegging means Pegging with reference to the midpoint between the
Inside Bid and the Inside Offer (the "Midpoint"). Thus, if the Inside Bid was $11 and the Inside Offer was
$11.06, an Order with Midpoint Pegging would be priced at $11.03. An Order with Midpoint Pegging is not
displayed. An Order with Midpoint Pegging may be executed in sub-pennies if necessary to obtain a midpoint
price. Participants may specify two alternative forms of Midpoint Pegging when entering an Order: “Managed Midpoint” Orders, which the System may update in response to changes to the Midpoint; and “Fixed Midpoint” Orders, which the System will cancel in response to changes to the Midpoint, as set forth below.
Pegging is available only during Market Hours. An Order with Pegging may specify a limit price beyond which
the Order may not be executed; provided, however, that if an Order has been assigned a Pegging Order
Attribute and a Discretion Order Attribute, the Order may execute at any price within the discretionary
price range, even if beyond the limit price specified with respect to the Pegging Order Attribute. If an
Order with Pegging is priced at its limit price, the price of the Order may nevertheless be changed to a
less aggressive price based on changes to the Inside Quotation. In addition, an Order with Primary Pegging
or Market Pegging may specify an Offset Amount, such that the price of the Order will vary from the Inside
Quotation by the selected Offset Amount. The Offset Amount may be either aggressive or passive. Thus, for
example, if a Participant entered an Order to buy with Primary Pegging and a passive Offset Amount of $0.05
and the Inside Bid was $11, the Order would be priced at $10.95. If the Participant selected an aggressive
Offset Amount of $0.02, however, the Order would be priced at $11.02. An Order with Primary Pegging and an
Offset Amount will not be Displayed, unless the Order is Attributable. An Order with Midpoint Pegging will
not be Displayed. An Order with Market Pegging and no Offset behaves as a "market order" with respect to any
liquidity on the Exchange Book at the Inside Quotation on the opposite side of the market because it is
immediately executable at that price.
Primary Pegged, Market Pegged, and Managed Midpoint Orders (collectively, “Peg Managed Orders”) are available through CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH, and FIX only.
If, at the time of entry, there is no price to which a Peg Managed Order, that has not been assigned a Routing Order Attribute or a Time in Force of IOC, can be pegged or pegging would lead to a price at which the Order cannot be posted, or in the case of a Managed Midpoint Order, the Inside Bid and Inside Offer are crossed, the Order will not be immediately available on the Exchange Book and will be entered once there is a permissible price; provided, however, that the System will cancel the Pegged Order if no permissible pegging price becomes available within one second after Order entry (the Exchange may, in the exercise of its discretion, modify the length of this one second time period by posting advance notice of the applicable time period on its website).
For a Peg Managed Order that has been assigned a Routing Order Attribute, if there is no permissible price to which the Order can be pegged at the time of entry, pegging would lead to a price at which the Order cannot be posted, or in the case of a Managed Midpoint Order, the Inside Bid and Inside Offer are crossed, the Order will be rejected; provided, however, that a Displayed Order that has Market Pegging, or an Order with a Non-Display Attribute that has Primary Pegging or Market Pegging, will be
accepted at its limit price.
A Midpoint Pegging Order will have its price set upon initial entry to the Midpoint, unless the Order has
a limit price, and that limit price is lower than the Midpoint for an Order to buy (higher than the Midpoint
for an Order to sell), in which case the Order will be ranked on the Exchange Book at its limit price. If the Inside Bid and Inside Offer are locked, a Midpoint Pegging Order will be priced at the locking price; and for Fixed Midpoint Orders, if the Inside Bid and Inside Offer are crossed or if there is no Inside Bid and/or Inside Offer, the Order will not be accepted. However, even if the Inside Bid and Inside Offer are locked, an Order with Midpoint Pegging that locked an Order on the Exchange Book would execute.
After posting to the Nasdaq Book, the price of a Fixed Midpoint Order will not thereafter be adjusted based on changes to the Inside Bid or Offer. However, a Fixed Midpoint Order will be cancelled back to the Participant after
initial entry and posting to the Exchange Book if any of the following conditions are met:
• There is no Inside Bid and/or Inside Offer;
• The Order to buy (sell) is entered with a limit price above (below) the
Midpoint and is ranked at the Midpoint; thereafter the Inside Bid and/or Inside Offer change so that the
Midpoint changes and the Order is no longer at the Midpoint;
• The Order to buy (sell) is entered at a limit price that is equal to or
less than (greater than) the Midpoint and is ranked at its limit price; thereafter, the Inside Bid and/or
Inside Offer change so that the Midpoint is lower (higher) than the limit price of the Order;
• The Order to buy (sell) is entered at a limit price that is equal to or
less than (greater than) the Midpoint and is ranked at its limit price; thereafter, the Inside Bid and
Inside Offer become crossed, such that the Midpoint of the crossed Quotation remains equal to or higher
(lower) than the limit price of the Order, and then a new sell (buy) Order is received at a price that locks
or crosses the limit price of the resting Order marked for Midpoint Pegging; or
• The Order to buy (sell) is entered at a limit price that is greater than
(less than) the Midpoint and is therefore ranked at the Midpoint; thereafter the Inside Bid and Inside Offer
become crossed but the Midpoint does not change, and then a new sell (buy) Order is received at a price that
locks or crosses the Midpoint of the Inside Bid and Inside Offer.
A Peg Managed Order will have its price set upon initial entry and will
thereafter have its price reset in accordance with changes to the relevant Inside Quotation. An Order with
Pegging receives a new timestamp whenever its price is updated and therefore will be evaluated with respect
to possible execution (and routing, if it has been assigned a Routing Order Attribute) in the same manner as
a newly entered Order. If the price to which an Order is pegged becomes unavailable, pegging would lead to a price at which the Order cannot be posted, or, in the case of a Managed Midpoint Order, if the Inside Bid and Inside Offer become crossed, the Order will be
cancelled back to the participant if assigned a Routing Order Attribute; provided, however, that an Order with Market Pegging, or an Order with Primary Pegging and a Non-Display Attribute, shall be re-entered at its limit price. If a Peg Managed Order is not assigned a Routing Order Attribute, and the price to which it is pegged becomes unavailable, pegging would lead to a price at which the Order cannot be posted, or, in the case of a Managed Midpoint Order, if the Inside Bid and Inside Offer become crossed, the Order will be removed from the Exchange Book and will be re-entered once there is a permissible price, provided however, that the System will cancel the Pegged Order if no permissible pegging price becomes available within one second after the Order was removed and no longer available on the Exchange Book (the Exchange may, in the exercise of its discretion modify the length of this one second time period by posting advance notice of the applicable time period on its website).
Pegging Orders are subject to a collar. Any portion of a Pegging Order with a Routing attribute to buy (sell) that could execute, either on the Exchange or when routed to another market center, at a price of more than the greater of $0.25 or 5 percent higher (lower) than the NBO (NBB) at the time when the order reaches the System (the “Collar Price”), will be cancelled. An Order entered without a Routing attribute will be cancelled, if it would, as a result of the price determined by a Pegging or Discretionary Pegging attribute, execute or post to the Exchange Book at a price through the Collar Price.
(e) Minimum Quantity. Minimum Quantity is an Order Attribute that allows a Participant to provide that an
Order will not execute unless a specified minimum quantity of shares can be obtained. An Order with a
Minimum Quantity Order Attribute may be referred to as a "Minimum Quantity Order." For example, a
Participant could enter an Order with a Size of 1000 shares and specify a Minimum Quantity of 500 shares.
A Participant may specify two alternatives with respect to the processing of a Minimum Quantity Order at time
of entry:
• First, the Participant may specify that the minimum quantity condition may
be satisfied by execution against multiple Orders. In that case, upon entry, the System would determine
whether there were one or more posted Orders executable against the incoming Order with an aggregate size of
at least the minimum quantity (500 shares in the above example). If there were not, the Order would post on
the Exchange Book in accordance with the characteristics of its underlying Order Type.
• Second, the Participant may specify that the minimum quantity condition
must be satisfied by execution against one or more Orders, each of which must have a size that satisfies the
minimum quantity condition. If there are such Orders but there are also other Orders that do not satisfy the
minimum quantity condition, the Minimum Quantity Order will execute against Orders on the Exchange Book in
accordance with Rule 4757 (pertaining to execution priority) until it reaches an Order that does not satisfy
the minimum quantity condition, and then the remainder of the Order will be cancelled. For example, if a
Participant entered an Order to buy at $11 with a size of 1,500 shares and a minimum quantity condition of
500 shares, and there were three Orders to sell at $11 on the Exchange Book, two with a size of 500 shares
each and one with a size of 200 shares, with the 200 share Order ranked in time priority between the 500
share Orders, the 500 share Order with the first time priority would execute and the remainder of the
Minimum Quantity Order would be cancelled. Alternatively, if the Order would lock or cross Orders on the
Exchange Book but none of the resting Orders would satisfy the minimum quantity condition, an Order with a
minimum quantity condition to buy (sell) will be repriced to one minimum price increment lower than (higher
than) the lowest price (highest price) of such Orders. For example, if there was an Order to buy at $11 with
a minimum quantity condition of 500 shares, and there were resting Orders on the Exchange Book to sell 200
shares at $10.99 and 300 shares at $11, the Order would be repriced to $10.98 and ranked at that price.
• Once posted to the Exchange Book, a Minimum Quantity Order retains its
Minimum Quantity Order Attribute, such that the Order may execute only against incoming Orders with a size
of at least the minimum quantity condition. An Order that has a Minimum Quantity Order Attribute and that
posts to the Exchange Book will not be displayed.
Upon entry, an Order with a Minimum Quantity Order Attribute must have a size of at least one round lot. An
Order entered through CORE FIX, OUCH or FLITE may have a minimum quantity condition of any size of at least one round
lot. An Order entered through RASH or FIX must have a minimum quantity of one round lot or any multiple
thereof, and a mixed lot minimum quantity condition will be rounded down to the nearest round lot. In the
event that the shares remaining in the size of an Order with a Minimum Quantity Order Attribute following a
partial execution thereof are less than the minimum quantity specified by the Participant entering the
Order, the minimum quantity value of the Order will be reduced to the number of shares remaining. An Order
with a Minimum Quantity Order Attribute may not be displayed; if a Participant marks an Order with both a
Minimum Quantity Order Attribute and a Display Order Attribute, the System will accept the Order but will
give a Time-in-Force of IOC, regardless of the Time-in-Force marked by the Participant. An Order marked with
a Minimum Quantity Order Attribute and a Routing Order Attribute will be rejected.
(f) Routing. Routing is an Order Attribute that allows a Participant to designate an Order to employ one of
several Routing Strategies offered by the Exchange, as described in Rule 4758; such an Order may be referred
to as a "Routable Order." Upon receipt of an Order with the Routing Order Attribute, the System will process
the Order in accordance with the applicable Routing Strategy. In the case of a limited number of Routing
Strategies, the Order will be sent directly to other market centers for potential execution. For most other
Routing Strategies, the Order will attempt to access liquidity available on the Exchange in the manner
specified for the underlying Order Type and will then be routed in accordance with the applicable Routing
Strategy. Shares of the Order that cannot be executed are then returned to the Exchange, where they will (i)
again attempt to access liquidity available on the Exchange and (ii) post to the Exchange Book or be
cancelled, depending on the Time-in-Force of the Order. Under certain Routing Strategies, the Order may be
routed again if the System observes an accessible quotation of another market center, and returned to the
Exchange again for potential execution and/or posting to the Exchange Book. In connection with the trading
of securities governed by Regulation NMS, all Orders shall be routed for potential execution in compliance
with Regulation NMS. Where appropriate, Routable Orders will be marked as Intermarket Sweep Orders.
(g) Discretion. Discretion is an Order Attribute under which an Order has a non-displayed discretionary price
range within which the entering Participant is willing to trade; such an Order may be referred to as a
"Discretionary Order." Thus, an Order with Discretion has both a price (for example, buy at $11) and a
discretionary price range (for example, buy up to $11.03). Depending on the Order Type used, the price may
be displayed (for example, a Price to Display Order) or non-displayed (for example, a Non-Displayed Order).
The discretionary price range is always non-displayed. In addition, it should be noted that the Discretion
Order Attribute may be combined with the Pegging Order Attribute, in which case either the price of the
Order or the discretionary price range or both may be pegged in the ways described in Rule 4702(d) with
respect to the Pegging Order Attribute. For example, an Order with Discretion to buy might be pegged to the
Best Bid with a $0.05 passive Offset and might have a discretionary price range pegged to the Best Bid with
a $0.02 passive Offset. In that case, if the Best Bid was $11, the price of the Order would be $10.95, with
a discretionary price range up to $10.98. If the Best Bid moved to $10.99, the price of the Order would then
be $10.94, with a discretionary price range up to $10.97. Alternatively, if the price of the Order was
pegged but the discretionary price range was not, the price of the Order would be $10.94, but the
discretionary price range would continue to range up to $10.98. Likewise, if the discretionary price range
was pegged but the price of the Order was not, the Order would remain priced at $10.95 but with a
discretionary price range of up to $10.97. A Participant may also specify a limit on the discretionary price range of an Order that is entered
with a Discretionary Pegging Attribute, beyond which the discretionary pegged price may not extend.
The System processes an Order with Discretion as follows. First, upon entry of an Order with Discretion, the Exchange will execute the Order against any previously posted Orders on the Exchange Book that are priced equal to or better than the limit price of the Order with Discretion. If, however, an Order with Discretion has a Time-in-Force of IOC upon entry, then the Order will immediately attempt to execute against available liquidity in the discretionary range without first posting to the Exchange Book. Second, any portion of the Order with Discretion that cannot be executed immediately will post to the Exchange Book, in accordance with the parameters of the underlying Order Type. Third, once the Order with Discretion posts to the Exchange Book and thereafter, the System will examine all Orders (including Orders that are not Displayed) on the Exchange Book to determine whether at any time there is liquidity available within the discretionary price range against which the Order with Discretion could execute. Fourth, if the System observes liquidity available within the discretionary price range, it will generate a
Non-Displayed Order with a Time-in-Force of IOC (a "Discretionary IOC"), with a price equal to the highest price for the Order with Discretion to buy (lowest price for the Order with Discretion to sell) within the discretionary price range and a size equal to the applicable size of the available liquidity on the Exchange Book, which will attempt to access
that liquidity. The Discretionary IOC will not be permitted to execute, however, if the price of the execution would trade through a Protected Quotation. Fifth, if the available liquidity does not fully exhaust the Discretionary IOC, then the System will remove any remaining shares of the Order with Discretion from the Exchange Book, combine them with the unexecuted portion of the Discretionary IOC, and post the Discretionary Order back to the Exchange Book with a new timestamp. Thus, for example, if a Participant enters a Price to Display Order to buy 500 shares at $11 with a discretionary price range of up to $11.03, then upon entry, the System will first execute the Order against any orders resting on the Exchange Book that are priced equal to or better than the limit price of the Discretionary Order. Assuming that no such resting orders exist, the System will post the full size of the Price to Display Order to the Exchange Book in accordance with its parameters. If there is an Order on the Exchange Book to sell 200 shares priced at $11.03, the System will generate a Discretionary IOC to buy priced at $11.03 to execute against the Order on the Exchange Book, so long as an execution at $11.03 would not trade through a Protected Quotation; the remaining 300 shares of the original Order with Discretion will remain posted on the Exchange Book.
Notwithstanding the above, the following process shall apply to an Order that has been assigned both Discretion and Routing Order Attributes. For those routing strategies that first examine the Exchange Book for available liquidity, upon entry of the Order, the System will examine all Orders (including Orders that are not Displayed) on the Exchange Book to determine if there is liquidity available within the discretionary price range against which the Order with Discretion could execute. If the System observes such liquidity, it will generate a Discretionary IOC with a price equal to the highest price for the Order with Discretion to buy (lowest price for the Order with Discretion to sell) within the discretionary price range and a size equal to the applicable size of the available liquidity on the Exchange Book. If existing liquidity on the Exchange Book does not exhaust the full size of the Order with Discretion, or if the selected routing strategy does not examine the Exchange Book for available liquidity before routing, the System will determine if there are any accessible quotations with prices that are within the discretionary price range at destinations on the applicable routing table for the selected routing strategy. If there are such quotations, the System will generate one or more Discretionary IOCs to route to such destinations, in accordance with the applicable routing strategy, with a price that matches the price of the market center's quotation and a size determined by the router to maximize execution opportunities. If necessary to maximize execution opportunities and comply with Regulation NMS, the System may mark such Discretionary IOCs as Intermarket Sweep Orders. If the routed Discretionary IOC(s) do not exhaust the full size of the Order with Discretion, the remaining size of the Order with Discretion will examine the Exchange Book for available liquidity at any time and/or post to the Exchange Book in accordance with the parameters that apply to the underlying Order Type. Thereafter, if the Order with Discretion uses a reactive routing strategy (i.e., a strategy that seeks routing opportunities after posting to the Exchange Book), the System will generate and route one or more additional Discretionary IOCs in response to new away market quotations within the discretionary price range according to the routing strategy assigned to the Discretionary Order, with a price that matches the price of the away market quotation and a size determined by the router to maximize execution opportunities. If the Order with Discretion uses a passive routing strategy (i.e., a strategy that does not seek routing opportunities after posting to the Exchange Book), the System will not generate additional Discretionary IOC orders in response to new away market quotations within the discretionary price range unless the Order is updated in a manner that causes it to receive a new timestamp, in which case the Order will behave in the same manner as a newly entered Discretionary Order. Whenever a Discretionary IOC is generated in response to quotations as set forth in this paragraph, the underlying Order with Discretion will be withheld (if not yet booked) or removed (if already booked) from the Exchange Book; if execution against the Discretionary IOC does not exhaust the full size of the underlying Order with Discretion, the remaining shares will be routed again in accordance with the applicable routing strategy, with a price that matches the price of the away market quotation and a size determined by the router to maximize execution opportunities, and/or placed on the Exchange Book, with a price determined by the underlying Order Type and Order Attributes selected by the Participant. Furthermore, if a new quotation satisfies conditions that would cause the simultaneous generation of a Discretionary IOC for more than one Order with Discretion that have been assigned a Routing Order Attribute, the order in which such Discretionary IOCs are presented for execution is random, based on the respective processing time for each such Order.
(h) Reserve Size. Reserve Size is an Order Attribute that permits a Participant to stipulate that an Order
Type that is displayed may have its displayed size replenished from additional non-displayed size. An Order
with Reserve Size may be referred to as a "Reserve Order." At the time of entry, the displayed size of such
an Order selected by the Participant must be one or more normal units of trading; an Order with a displayed
size of a mixed lot will be rounded down to the nearest round lot. A Reserve Order with displayed size of an
odd lot: (i) entered using CORE FIX or OUCH will be rejected; or (ii) entered using RASH or FIX will be accepted but with the full size of the Order displayed. Reserve Size is not available for
Orders that are not displayed; provided, however, that if a Participant enters Reserve Size for a
Non-Displayed Order, the full size of the Order, including Reserve Size, will be
processed as a Non- Displayed Order.
Whenever a Participant enters an Order with Reserve Size, the full size of the Order will be presented for
potential execution in compliance with Regulation NMS; thereafter, unexecuted portions of the Order will be
processed as two Orders: a Displayed Order (with the characteristics of its selected Order Type) and a
Non-Displayed Order. For example, a Participant might enter a Price to Display Order with 200 shares
displayed and an additional 3,000 shares non-displayed. Upon entry, the Order would attempt to execute
against available liquidity on the Exchange Book, up to 3,200 shares. Thereafter, unexecuted portions of the
Order would post to the Exchange Book as a Displayed Price to Display Order and a Non-Displayed Order;
provided, however, that if the remaining total size is less than the display size stipulated by the
Participant, the Displayed Order will post without Reserve Size. Thus, if 3,050 shares executed upon entry,
the Price to Display Order would post with a size of 150 shares and no Reserve Size.
When an Order with Reserve Size is posted, if there is an execution against the Displayed Order that causes
its size to decrease below a normal unit of trading, another Displayed Order will be entered at the limit
price and size stipulated by the Participant while the size of the Non- Displayed Order will be reduced by
the same amount. Any remaining size of the original Displayed Order will remain on the Exchange Book. The
new Displayed Order will receive a new timestamp, but the Non-Displayed Order (and the original Displayed
Order, if any) will not; although the new Displayed Order will be processed by the System as a new Order in
most respects at that time, if it was designated as Routable, the System will not automatically route it
upon reentry. If the new Displayed Order would lock an Order that posted to the Exchange Book before
replenishment can occur, the Displayed Order will post at the locking price if the resting Order is
Non-Display or will be repriced, ranked, and displayed at one minimum price increment lower (higher) than
the locking price if the resting order to sell (buy) is Displayed. For example, if a Price to Comply
Order with Reserve Size posted with a Displayed Size of 200 shares, along with a Non- Displayed Order of
3,000 and 150 shares of the Displayed Order was executed, the remaining 50 shares of the original Price to
Comply Order would remain, a new Price to Comply Order would post with a size of 200 shares and a new
timestamp, and the Non- Displayed Order would be decremented to 2,800 shares. Because a new Displayed Order
is entered and the Non-Displayed Order is not reentered, there are circumstances in which the Displayed
Order may receive a different price than the Non-Displayed Order. For example, if, upon reentry, a Price to
Display Order would lock or cross a newly posted Protected Quotation, the price of the Order will be
adjusted but its associated Non-Displayed Order would not be adjusted. In that circumstance, it would be
possible for the better priced Non-Displayed Order to execute prior to the Price to Display Order.
In addition, the Participant may stipulate that the original and subsequent displayed size will be an amount
randomly determined based on factors selected by the Participant (a “Random Reserve”). When a
Participant stipulates use of a Random Reserve, the Participant would select both (i) a nominal displayed
size and (ii) a range size, which may be any share amount less than the nominal displayed size. The actual
displayed size will then be randomly determined by the System from a range of normal trading units in which
the minimum size is the nominal displayed size minus the range size, and the maximum size is (i) the minimum
size plus (ii) an amount that is two times the range size minus one round lot. For example, if the nominal
displayed size is 600 shares and the range size is 500, the minimum displayed size will be 100 shares
(600-500), and the maximum size will be 1,000 shares ((600-500) + ((2 x 500) - 100)).
When the Displayed Order with Reserve Size is executed and replenished, applicable market data disseminated
by the Exchange will show the execution and decrementation of the Displayed Order, followed by replenishment
of the Displayed Order.
(i) Attribution. Attribution is an Order Attribute that permits a Participant to designate that the price and
size of the Order will be displayed next to the Participant's MPID in market data disseminated by the
Exchange. An Order with Attribution is referred to as an "Attributable Order" and an Order without
attribution is referred to as a "Non- Attributable Order."
(j) Intermarket Sweep Order. Designation of an Order as an Intermarket Sweep Order, or ISO, is an Order
Attribute that allows the Order to be executed within the System by Participants at multiple price levels
without respect to Protected Quotations of other market centers within the meaning of Rule 600(b) under
Regulation NMS. ISOs are immediately executable within the System against Orders against which they are
marketable. An Order designated as an ISO may not be assigned a Routing Order Attribute. In connection with
the trading of securities governed by Regulation NMS, Intermarket Sweep Orders shall be executed exclusively
within the System and the entering Participant shall be responsible for compliance with Rules 610 and 611
under Regulation NMS with respect to order protection and locked and crossed markets with respect to such
Orders. Orders eligible for execution outside the System shall be processed in compliance with Regulation
NMS, including accessing Protected Quotations and resolving locked and crossed markets, as instructed.
Simultaneously with the routing of an ISO to the System, one or more additional limit orders, as necessary,
are routed by the entering Participant to execute against the full displayed size of any Protected Quotation
with a price that is superior to the price of the Order identified as an Intermarket Sweep Order (as defined
in Rule 600(b) under Regulation NMS). These additional routed orders must be identified as Intermarket Sweep
Orders.
Upon receipt of an ISO, the System will consider the stated price of the ISO to be available for other Orders
to be entered at that price, unless the ISO is not itself accepted at that price level (for example, a
Post-Only Order that has its price adjusted to avoid executing against an Order on the Exchange Book) or the
ISO is not Displayed.
In addition, as described with respect to various Order Types, such as the Price to Comply Order, Orders on
the Exchange Book that had their price adjusted may be eligible to be reentered at the stated price of the
ISO. For example, if a Price to Comply Order to buy at $11 would lock a Protected Offer at $11, the Price to
Comply Order will be posted with a non-displayed price of $11 and a displayed price of $10.99. If the System
then receives an ISO to buy at $11, the ISO will be posted at $11 and the Price to Comply Order will be
reentered at $11 (if the Participant opted to have its Orders reentered). The respective priority of such
reentered Orders will be maintained among multiple repriced Orders; however, other new Orders may also be
received after receipt of the ISO but before the repricing of the Price to Comply Order is complete;
accordingly, the priority of an Order on the Exchange Book vis-à-vis a newly entered Order is not
guaranteed.
(k) Display. Display is an Order Attribute that allows the price and size of an Order to be displayed to
market participants via market data feeds. All Orders that are Attributable are also displayed, but an Order
may be displayed without being Attributable. As discussed in Rule 4702, a Non-Displayed Order is a specific
Order Type, but other Order Types may also be non-displayed if they are not assigned a Display Order
Attribute; however, depending on context, all Orders that are not displayed may be referred to as
"Non-Displayed Orders." An Order with a Display Order Attribute may be referred to as a "Displayed Order."
(l) Trade Now. Trade Now is an Order Attribute that allows a resting Order that is locked
or crossed, as applicable, at its non-displayed price by the posted price of an incoming
Displayed Order or another Order or Orders (where such locking or crossing Order(s) or the order with Trade Now satisfies a Minimum Quantity condition) to execute against a locking or crossing Order(s) as a liquidity taker automatically when such Orders become marketable.
Any remaining shares of the resting Order will remain posted on the BX Book with the same priority.
• When entered through the CORE FIX, OUCH, RASH, or FIX protocols,
the Trade Now Order Attribute may be enabled on an order-by-order or a port-level basis. When entered through FLITE, the Trade Now Order Attribute may be enabled on a port-level basis for all Order Types that support it, and for the Non-Displayed Order Type, also on an order-by-order basis.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended July 7, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-030), operative September 28, 2021; amended Oct. 19, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-049), operative Jan. 18, 2022; amended Aug. 25, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-015), operative Jan. 23, 2023; amended Sep. 5, 2023 (SR-BX-2023-023), operative Oct. 4, 2023; amended Apr. 26, 2024 (SR-BX-2024-013), operative May 25, 2024; amended Aug. 26, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-017), operative Sep. 25, 2025; amended Dec. 12, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-033), operative Jan. 11, 2026.
(a) Trading Prior To Normal Market Hours. The system shall process all eligible Quotes/Orders at 7:00 a.m.:
(1) At 7:00 a.m., the system shall add in time priority all eligible Orders in
accordance with each order's defined characteristics.
(2) Quoting Market Participants must enter quotations in compliance with Equity 2,
Section 5 at 9:25 a.m. until market open, and at all times thereafter during Regular Market Hours.
(3) All trades executed prior to 9:30 shall be automatically appended with the
".T" modifier.
(b) The official opening price for a security listed on the Exchange will be the price of the first trade
executed at or after 9:30 a.m. and the official closing price will be the price of the last trade executed
at or prior to 4:00 p.m.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) Entry of Orders—Participants can enter orders into the System, subject to the following
requirements and conditions:
(1) Participants shall be permitted to transmit to the System multiple orders at a
single as well as multiple price levels. Each order shall indicate the amount of Reserve Size (if
applicable).
(2) The System shall time-stamp an order which shall determine the time ranking of
the order for purposes of processing the order.
(3) Orders can be entered into the System (or previously entered Orders cancelled
or modified) from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. ET. Participants may modify a previously entered Order without
cancelling it or affecting the priority of the Order on the Exchange Book solely for the purpose of
modifying the marking of a sell Order as long, short, or short exempt; provided, however, that such a
modification may be made only with respect to Orders entered through OUCH or FLITE; and provided further,
that if an Order is redesignated as short, a Short Sale Period is in effect under Rule 4763, and the Order
is not priced at a Permitted Price or higher under Rule 4763(d), the Order will be cancelled. In addition, a
partial cancellation of an Order to reduce its share size will not affect the priority of the Order on the
book. Except as provided in Rule 4761, all other modifications
of orders will result in the replacement of the original order with a new order with a new time stamp.
(4) Each Order is subject to a daily limit on the number of changes that may occur
with respect to the Order; if the daily limit is reached, the Order will be cancelled. The number of
permissible changes may vary by Order Type or Order Attribute and may change from time to time. The Exchange
will post on its website what is considered a change for a particular Order Type and Order Attribute, and
the current limits on the number of such changes.
(b) Entry of Quotes—Equities Market Makers and Equities ECNs can enter Quotes into the system from 7:00
a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Quotes will be processed as Attributable Orders, with such time-in-force
designation as the Equities Market Maker or Equities ECN may assign. Entry of Quotes will be subject to the
requirements and conditions set forth in section (a) above.
(c) Display of Quotes and Orders—The System will display quotes and orders submitted to the System as
follows:
(1) System Book Feed—quotes and orders resident in the System available for
execution will be displayed via the System Book Feed.
(2) Best Priced Order Display—Pursuant to Rule 602 of Regulation NMS under
the Exchange Act, the Exchange will transmit for display to the appropriate network processor for each
System Security:
(i) the highest price to buy wherein the aggregate size of all displayed buy
interest in the System greater than or equal to that price is one round lot or greater;
(ii) the aggregate size of all displayed buy interest in the System greater than
or equal to the price in (i), rounded down to the nearest round lot;
(iii) the lowest price to sell wherein the aggregate size of all displayed sell
interest in the System less than or equal to that price is one round lot or greater; and
(iv) the aggregate size of all displayed sell interest in the System less than or
equal to the price in (iii), rounded down to the nearest round lot.
(3) Exceptions—The following exceptions shall apply to the display parameters set forth in paragraphs
(1) and (2) above:
(A) Reserve Size—Reserve Size shall not be displayed in the System, but
shall be accessible as described in Rule 4757.
(B) Discretionary Orders—The discretionary portion of Discretionary Orders
shall not be displayed but shall be made available for execution only upon the appearance of contra-side
marketable trading interest, and shall be executed pursuant to Rule 4703(g) and Rule 4757.
(C) Non-Displayed Orders—Non-Displayed Orders are not displayed in the
System, and have lower priority within the System than an equally priced Displayed Order, regardless of time
stamp, and shall be executed pursuant to Rule 4757.
(4) In connection with the trading of securities governed by Regulation NMS, pursuant to Rule 600(b)(4) of
Regulation NMS under the Act, the Exchange has implemented such systems, procedures, and rules as are
necessary to render it capable of meeting the requirements for automated quotations, as defined in Rule
600(b)(3) of Regulation NMS under the Act; and immediately to identify its quotations as manual whenever it
has reason to believe it is not capable of displaying automated quotations. The Exchange has adopted
policies and procedures for notifying members and other trading centers that it has reason to believe it is
not capable of displaying automated quotations or, once manual, that it has restored the ability to display
automated quotations and is preparing to identify its quotation as automated. In addition, the Exchange has
adopted policies and procedures for responding to notices that it receives from other trading centers
indicating that they have elected to use the "self-help" exception of Rule 611(b)(1) of Regulation NMS under
the Act.
Amended Nov. 25, 2020 (SR-BX-2020-034). operative Feb. 4, 2021; amended Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended Apr. 11, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-006), operative Aug. 22, 2022; amended Nov. 24, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-029), operative Jan. 5, 2026.
References to “CORE FIX” will be implemented in 2026.
Orders on the Exchange Book shall be presented for execution against incoming Orders in the order set forth
below:
(a) Execution Algorithm - Price/Display/Time. The System shall present Orders on the Exchange Book for
execution against incoming Order in accordance with a price/display/time algorithm:
(A) Price. Better priced Orders will be presented for execution first. For
example, an Order on the Exchange Book to buy at $10.00 will be ranked ahead of an Order to buy at $9.99.
(1) Display and Time. Equally priced Orders with a Display Attribute will be
ranked in time priority.
(2) Non-Display and Time. Orders with a Non-Display Attribute, including the
Non-Displayed portion of an Order with Reserve Size, will be ranked in time priority.
(3) Exception: Anti-Internalization - Market participants may direct that
quotes/orders entered into the System not execute against quotes/orders entered under the same MPID or quotes/orders entered across MPIDs under Common Ownership. * Market participants that demonstrate (i) membership on the Exchange through which they directly submit orders to the System and (ii) participation as a Sponsored Participant whereby they submit orders to the System through Sponsored Access, may also direct that quotes/orders entered into the System directly as a Member not execute against quotes/orders submitted as a Sponsored Participant. In addition, market participants using the CORE FIX or OUCH order entry protocol may assign to orders entered through a specific order entry port a unique group identification modifier that will prevent quotes/orders with such modifier from executing against each other.
Unless participants designate otherwise, for anti-internalization to activate across orders, the orders must reflect the same anti-internalization level. For example, if an order has designated anti-internalization at an MPID level (i.e., quotes/orders entered into the System shall not execute against quotes/orders entered under the same MPID), anti-internalization will only activate against another order designated with anti-internalization at an MPID level. However, participants also have the option to have anti-internalization activated against any anti-internalization level.
In each anti-internalization case, as described in this paragraph (3), a market participant may elect from the following strategies:
(i) Decrement: if the interacting quotes/orders are equivalent in size, both quotes/orders
will be cancelled back to their entering parties. If the interacting quotes/orders are not equivalent in
size, share amounts equal to size of the smaller of the two quotes/orders will be cancelled back to their
originating parties with the remainder of the larger quote/order being retained by the System for potential
execution;
(ii) Cancel Oldest: regardless of the size of the interacting quotes/orders, cancelling the
oldest of them in full;
(iii) Cancel Newest: regardless of the size of the interacting quotes/orders, cancelling the
most recent of them in full; or
(iv) Use Remover: uses the strategy (i.e., decrement, cancel oldest, or cancel newest) of the removing order. If the “Use Remover” strategy is on an order, it will only have anti-internalization activated against it when it is the resting order and will never trigger anti-internalization against another order when it is the incoming order.
When anti-internalization strategies differ between two orders, the strategy of the order removing liquidity will apply and the strategy of the resting order will be ignored.
(b) Decrementation—Upon execution, an order shall be reduced by an amount equal to the size of that
execution.
(c) Price Improvement—any potential price improvement resulting from an execution in the System shall
accrue to the taker of liquidity.
Example:
Buy order resides on the Exchange book at 10.
Incoming order to sell priced at 9 comes into the System
Order executes at 10 (seller get $1 price improvement)
(d) Limit Order Protection ("LOP"). LOP is a feature of BX that prevents certain Limit Orders at prices
outside of pre-set standard limits ("LOP Limit") from being accepted by the System.
(i) Applicability. LOP applies to all Quotes and Orders, including Quotes and
Orders that have been modified, where the modification results in a new timestamp and priority. LOP does not
apply to Orders with Market and Primary Pegging, Market Maker Peg Orders or Intermarket Sweep Orders. A
Midpoint Pegging Order with a discretion price would not be subject to LOP. LOP is operational each trading
day. LOP is not operational during trading halts and pauses. LOP would not apply in the event there is no
established LOP Reference Price or the National Best Bid, when used as the LOP Reference Price, is equal to
or less than $0.50.
(ii) LOP Limit. The LOP Limit shall be the greater of 10% of the LOP Reference
Price or $0.50 for all securities across all trading sessions.
(iii) LOP Reference Price. The LOP Reference Price shall be the current National
Best Bid or Best Offer, the bid for sell orders and the offer for buy orders.
(iv) LOP Reference Threshold. The LOP Reference Threshold for buy orders will be
the LOP Reference Price (offer) plus the applicable LOP Limit. The LOP Reference Threshold for sell orders
will be the LOP Reference Price (bid) minus the applicable LOP Limit.
(v) Acceptance of Orders. LOP will reject incoming Limit Orders that exceed the
LOP Reference Threshold. Limit Orders will be rejected if the price of the Limit Order is greater than the
LOP Reference Threshold for a buy Limit Order. Limit Orders will be rejected if the price of the Limit Order
is less than the LOP Reference Threshold for a sell Limit Order.
*For purposes of Equity 4, Rule 4757, the term "Common Ownership" shall mean participants under 75% common ownership or control.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended Oct. 21, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-020), operative Nov. 20, 2022; amended Dec. 4, 2024 (SR-BX-2024-057), operative May 6, 2025; amended Aug. 26, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-017), operative Sep. 25, 2025.
(a) Order Routing Process
(1) The Order Routing Process shall be available to Participants from 7:00 a.m.
until 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and shall route orders as described below. All routing of orders shall comply
with Rule 611 of Regulation NMS under the Act.
(A) The System provides a variety of routing options. Routing options may be
combined with all available order types and times-in-force, with the exception of order types and
times-in-force whose terms are inconsistent with the terms of a particular routing option. The System will
consider the quotations only of accessible markets. The term "System routing table" refers to the
proprietary process for determining the specific trading venues to which the System routes orders and the
order in which it routes them. The Exchange reserves the right to maintain a different System routing table
for different routing options and to modify the System routing table at any time without notice. The System
routing options are:
(i)-(ii) Reserved.
(iii) BSTG is a routing option under which orders check the System for available
shares and simultaneously route the remaining shares to destinations on the System routing table. If shares
remain un-executed after routing, they are posted on the book. Once on the book, should the order
subsequently be locked or crossed by another accessible market center, the System shall route the order to
the locking or crossing market center. BSKN is a form of BSTG in which the entering firm instructs the
System to bypass any market centers included in the BSTG System routing table that are not posting Protected
Quotations within the meaning of Regulation NMS.
(iv) BSCN is a routing option under which orders check the System for available
shares and simultaneously route the remaining shares to destinations on the System routing table. If shares
remain un-executed after routing, they are posted on the book. Once on the book, should the order
subsequently be locked or crossed by another market center, the System will not route the order to the
locking or crossing market center. BSKP is a form of BSCN in which the entering firm instructs the System to
bypass any market centers included in the BSCN System routing table that are not posting Protected
Quotations within the meaning of Regulation NMS.
(v) BTFY is a routing option under which orders check the System for available
shares only if so instructed by the entering firm and are thereafter routed to destinations on the System
routing table. If shares remain un-executed after routing, they are posted to the book. Once on the book,
should the order subsequently be locked or crossed by another market center, the System will not route the
order to the locking or crossing market center.
(vi) BMOP is a routing option under which orders route only to Protected
Quotations and only for displayed size. If shares remain unexecuted after routing, they are posted to the
book. Once on the book, should the order subsequently be locked or crossed by another market center, the
System will not route the order to the locking or crossing market center.
(vii) BCRT is a routing option under which orders check the System and then route
to the Nasdaq PSX facility of Nasdaq PHLX and Nasdaq. If shares remain un-executed, they are posted to the
book or cancelled. Once on the book, should the order subsequently be locked or crossed by another market
center, the System will not route the order to the locking or crossing market center.
(viii) BDRK is a routing option under which orders check the System for available
shares and simultaneously route the remaining shares to destinations on the System routing table that are
not posting Protected Quotations within the meaning of Regulation NMS. If shares remain un-executed after
routing, they are posted on the book. Once on the book, should the order subsequently be locked or crossed
by another market center, the System will not route the order to the locking or crossing market center.
(ix) BCST is a routing option under which orders check the System for available
shares and simultaneously route the remaining shares to destinations on the System routing table that are
not posting Protected Quotations within the meaning of Regulation NMS and to certain, but not all,
exchanges. If shares remain un-executed after routing, they are posted on the book. Once on the book, should
the order subsequently be locked or crossed by another market center, the System will not route the order to
the locking or crossing market center.
(x) SCAR is a routing option under which orders will check the System for
available shares and simultaneously route to The Nasdaq Stock Market and Nasdaq PSX in accordance with the
System routing table. If shares remain unexecuted after routing, they are posted on the book or cancelled.
Once on the book, should the order subsequently be locked or crossed by another market center, the System
will not route the order to the locking or crossing market center.
(B) Priority of Routed Orders. Regardless of the routing option selected, orders
sent by the System to other markets do not retain time priority with respect to other orders in the System
and the System shall continue to execute other orders while routed orders are away at another market center.
Once routed by the System, an order becomes subject to the rules and procedures of the destination market
including, but not limited to, order cancellation. If a routed order is subsequently returned, in whole or
in part, that order, or its remainder, shall receive a new time stamp reflecting the time of its return to
the System.
(b) Routing Broker
(1) All routing by the System shall be performed by the Exchange's affiliated
broker-dealer, Nasdaq Execution Services, LLC, ("NES"), which, in turn, shall route orders to other market
centers as directed by the Exchange either directly or through one or more third-party unaffiliated routing
broker-dealers. The Exchange will determine the logic that provides when, how, and where orders are routed
away to other exchanges. Except as provided in subparagraph (8) below, the routing broker(s) cannot change
the terms of an order or the routing instructions, nor does the routing broker have any discretion about
where to route an order.
(2) NES will not engage in any business other than: (a) as an outbound router for
the Exchange and (b) any other activities it may engage in as approved by the Commission; provided, however,
that immediately prior to the commencement of operations of NES as an outbound router for the Exchange, the
Exchange may use NES to conduct a test of its routing functionality, as provided in SR-BX-2011-076.
(3) NES shall operate as a facility, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Act, of
the Exchange.
(4) For purposes of SEC Rule 17d-1, the designated examining authority of NES
shall be a self-regulatory organization unaffiliated with the Exchange or any of its affiliates. The
Exchange and NES may not use a routing broker for which the Exchange or any affiliate of the Exchange is the
designated examining authority.
(5) The Exchange shall be responsible for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission rule changes related to the operation of, and fees for services provided by, NES and NES shall be
subject to exchange non-discrimination requirements.
(6) The books, records, premises, officers, agents, directors and employees of NES
as a facility of the Exchange shall be deemed to be the books, records, premises, officers, agents,
directors and employees of the Exchange for purposes of, and subject to oversight pursuant to, the Act. The
books and records of NES as a facility of the Exchange shall be subject at all times to inspection and
copying by the Commission.
(7) Use of NES to route orders to other market centers will be optional. Parties
that do not desire to use NES must enter orders into the System as immediate-or-cancel orders or any other
order type available through the System that is ineligible for routing.
(8) NES shall establish and maintain procedures and internal controls reasonably
designed to adequately restrict the flow of confidential and proprietary information between the Exchange
and its facilities (including NES as its routing facility) and any other entity; or, where there is a
routing broker, the Exchange, the Routing Facility and any routing broker, and any other entity, including
any affiliate of the routing broker (and if the routing broker or any of its affiliates engages in any other
business activities other than providing routing services to the Exchange, between the segment of the
routing broker or affiliate that provides the other business activities and the segment of the routing
broker that provides the routing services).
(c) Market Access. In addition to the Exchange Rules regarding routing to away trading centers, NES has,
pursuant to Rule 15c3-5 under the Act, implemented certain tests designed to mitigate risks associated with
providing the Exchange's Members with access to such away trading centers. Pursuant to the policies and
procedures developed by NES to comply with Rule 15c3-5, if an order or series of orders are deemed to be
violative of applicable pre-trade requirements under Rule 15c3-5, the order will be rejected prior to
routing and/or NES will seek to cancel the order if it has been routed.
(d) Cancellation of Orders and Error Account
(1) The Exchange or NES may cancel orders as either deems to be necessary to
maintain fair and orderly markets if a technical or systems issue occurs at the Exchange, NES, or a routing
destination. The Exchange or NES shall provide notice of the cancellation to affected members as soon as
practicable.
(2) NES shall maintain an error account for the purpose of addressing positions
that result from a technical or systems issue at NES, the Exchange, a routing destination, or a
non-affiliate third-party Routing Broker that affects one or more orders ("error positions").
(A) For purposes of this Rule 4758(d), an error position shall not include any
position that results from an order submitted by a member to the Exchange that is executed on the Exchange
and automatically processed for clearance and settlement on a locked-in basis.
(B) Except as provided in Rule 4758(d)(2)(C), NES shall not (i) accept any
positions in its error account from an account of a member, or (ii) permit any member to transfer any
positions from the member's account to NES's error account.
(C) If a technical or systems issue results in the Exchange not having valid
clearing instructions for a member to a trade, NES may assume that member's side of the trade so that the
trade can be automatically processed for clearance and settlement on a locked-in basis.
(3) In connection with a particular technical or systems issue, NES or the
Exchange shall either (i) assign all resulting error positions to members in accordance with subparagraph
(A) below, or (ii) have all resulting error positions liquidated in accordance with subparagraph (B) below.
Any determination to assign or liquidate error positions, as well as any resulting assignments, shall be
made in a nondiscriminatory fashion.
(A) NES or the Exchange shall assign all error positions resulting from a
particular technical or systems issue to the members affected by that technical or systems issue if NES or
the Exchange:
(i) determines that it has accurate and sufficient information (including valid
clearing information) to assign the positions to all of the members affected by that technical or systems
issue;
(ii) determines that it has sufficient time pursuant to normal clearance and
settlement deadlines to evaluate the information necessary to assign the positions to all of the members
affected by that technical or systems issue; and
(iii) has not determined to cancel all orders affected by that technical or
systems issue in accordance with subparagraph (d)(1) above.
(B) If NES or the Exchange is unable to assign all error positions resulting from
a particular technical or systems issue to all of the affected members in accordance with subparagraph (A)
above, or if NES or the Exchange determines to cancel all orders affected by the technical or systems issue
in accordance with subparagraph (d)(1) above, then NES shall liquidate the error positions as soon as
practicable. NES shall:
(i) provide complete time and price discretion for the trading to liquidate the
error positions to a third-party broker-dealer and shall not attempt to exercise any influence or control
over the timing or methods of such trading; and
(ii) establish and enforce policies and procedures that are reasonably designed
to restrict the flow of confidential and proprietary information between the third-party broker-dealer and
NES/the Exchange associated with the liquidation of the error positions.
(4) NES and the Exchange shall make and keep records to document all
determinations to treat positions as error positions and all determinations for the assignment of error
positions to members or the liquidation of error positions, as well as records associated with the
liquidation of error positions through the third-party broker-dealer.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) The BX System consumes quotation data from the below proprietary and network processor feeds for the
handling, routing, and execution of orders, as well as for the regulatory compliance processes related to
those functions. The Primary Source of data is used unless it is delayed by a configurable amount compared
to the Secondary Source of data. The Exchange will revert to the Primary Source of data once the delay has
been resolved. The configurable amount described in this rule will be made available to members via Equity
Trader Alert.
|
Market Center
|
Primary Source Quotes
|
Secondary Source Quotes
|
|
A - NYSE American
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
B - Nasdaq BX
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
C - NYSE National
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
D - FINRA ADF
|
CQS/UQDF
|
n/a
|
|
E - 24X
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
H – MIAX Pearl
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
J - CBOE EDGA
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
K - CBOE EDGX
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
L – LTSE
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
M - NYSE Chicago
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
N - NYSE
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
P - NYSE Arca
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
T/Q - Nasdaq
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
U – MEMX
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
V - IEX
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
X - Nasdaq PSX
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
Y - CBOE BYX
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
|
Z - CBOE BZX
|
Direct Feed
|
CQS/UQDF
|
(b) SIP Trade and Administrative Data. The SIP is the Primary Source of trade and administrative messages
such as limit-up limit-down price bands, market-wide circuit breaker decline and status messages, Regulation
SHO state messages, halts and resumes, and last sale information. Where available, the Direct Feeds are the
Secondary Source of such information.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended June 14, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-027); amended Nov. 25, 2024 (SR-BX-2024-053); amended Sep. 12, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-021).
(a) Transactions executed in the System shall be cleared and settled anonymously. The transaction reports
produced by the System will indicate the details of the transactions, and shall not reveal contra party
identities.
(b) The Exchange shall reveal a Participant's identity in the following circumstances:
(1) when a registered clearing agency ceases to act for a participant, or the
Participant's clearing firm, and the registered clearing agency determines not to guarantee the settlement
of the Participant's trades;
(2) for regulatory purposes or to comply with an order of an arbitrator or court;
(3) if both Participants to the transaction consent;
(4) Unless otherwise instructed by a member, the Exchange will reveal to a member,
no later than the end of the day on the date an anonymous trade was executed, when the member's Quote or
Order has been decremented by another Quote or Order submitted by that same member.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
The System will automatically cancel open quotes and/or orders in all System
Securities resident in the System in response to issuer corporate actions, including any dividend (whether
payable in cash or securities or both), payment, distribution, forward or reverse stock split, symbol
change, or change in primary listing venue, immediately prior to the opening of the System at 7:00 a.m. on
the ex-date of such actions.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended Dec. 12, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-033), operative Jan. 11, 2026.
All matters related to clearly erroneous transactions executed in the System shall be initiated and
adjudicated pursuant to Equity 11, Rule 11890.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this Rule, the terms "covered security," "listing market," and "national
best bid" shall have the same meaning as in Rule 201 of Regulation SHO.
(b) Short Sale Price Test. The System (as defined in Equity 1, Section 1(a)(6)) shall not execute or display
a short sale order with respect to a covered security at a price that is less than or equal to the current
national best bid if the price of that security decreases by 10% or more, as determined by the listing
market for the security, from the security's closing price on the listing market as of the end of regular
trading hours on the prior day ("Trigger Price").
(c) Duration of Short Sale Price Test. If the Short Sale Price Test is triggered by the listing market with
respect to a covered security, the Short Sale Price Test shall remain in effect until the close of trading
on the next trading day, as provided for in Regulation SHO Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) (the "Short Sale Period").
(d) Re-pricing of Orders during Short Sale Period. Except as provided below, during the Short Sale Period,
short sale orders that are limited to the national best bid or lower and short sale market orders will be
re-priced by the System one minimum allowable price increment above the current national best bid
("Permitted Price"). To reflect declines in the national best bid, the Exchange will continue to re-price a
short sale order at the lowest Permitted Price down to the order's original limit price, or if a market
order, until the order is filled. Non-displayed orders between the BX bid and offer will also be re-priced
upward to a Permitted Price to correspond with a rise in the national best bid.
(1) During the Short Sale Period, immediate or cancel orders ("IOC") requiring
that all or part of the order be executed immediately will be executed at a Permitted Price and higher and
then cancelled, and will not be re-priced. IOC short sale orders that are inter-market sweep orders and not
marked "short exempt" will be handled in the same manner as IOC orders.
(2) During the Short Sale Period, if an order was entered as a long sale order or
a short sale exempt order but is subsequently marked pursuant to Rule 4756(a)(3) as a short sale order, the
System will cancel the order unless it is priced at a Permitted Price or higher.
(e) Execution of Permissible Orders during the Short Sale Period. During the Short Sale Period, the System
will execute and display a short sale order without regard to whether the order is at a Permitted Price or
higher if, at the time of initial display of the short sale order, the order was at a price above the then
current national best bid. Short sale orders that are entered into the Exchange prior to the Short Sale
Period but are not displayed will be re-priced as described in (d) above.
(f) Short Exempt Orders. During the Short Sale Period, the System will execute and display orders marked
"short exempt" without regard to whether the order is at a Permitted Price or higher. The System will accept
orders marked "short exempt" at any time when the System is open for order entry, regardless of whether the
Short Sale Price Test has been triggered.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) Tick Size Pilot Program
(1) Definitions.
(A) "Plan" means the
Tick Size Pilot Plan Submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission
Pursuant to Rule 608(a)(3) of Regulation NMS under the Exchange Act.
(B) "Pilot Test Groups"
means the three test groups established under the Plan, consisting of 400 Pilot
Securities each, which satisfy the respective criteria established by the Plan
for each such test group.
(C) "Retail Investor
Order" means an agency order or a riskless principal order that meets the
criteria of FINRA Rule 5320.03 that originates from a natural person and is
submitted in a Participant-operated retail liquidity program by a retail
member, provided that no change is made to the terms of the order with respect
to price or side of market and the order does not originate from a trading
algorithm or any other computerized methodology. A Retail Investor Order may be
an odd lot, round lot, or partial round lot.
(D) "Trade-at Intermarket
Sweep Order" means a limit order for a Pilot Security that meets the
following requirements:
(i) When routed to a Trading Center,
the limit order is identified as a Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Order; and
(ii) Simultaneously with the
routing of the limit order identified as a Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Order,
one or more additional limit orders, as necessary, are routed to execute
against the full size of any protected bid, in the case of a limit order to
sell, or the full displayed size of any protected offer, in the case of a limit
order to buy, for the Pilot Security with a price that is better than or equal
to the limit price of the limit order identified as a Trade-at Intermarket
Sweep Order. These additional routed orders also must be marked as Trade-at
Intermarket Sweep Orders or Intermarket Sweep Orders.
(E) All capitalized terms not
otherwise defined in this Rule shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan,
Regulation NMS under the Exchange Act, or Exchange rules, as applicable.
(2) Exchange Participation in the
Plan. The Exchange is a Participant in, and subject to the applicable
requirements of, the Plan, which establishes a Tick Size Pilot Program that
will allow the Securities and Exchange Commission, market participants, and the
public to study and assess the impact of increment conventions on the liquidity
and trading of the common stocks of small capitalization companies.
(3) Member Compliance. Members
shall establish, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures that are
reasonably designed to comply with the applicable requirements of the Plan.
(4) Exchange Compliance with the
Plan. Exchange systems will not display, quote or trade in violation of the
applicable quoting and trading requirements for a Pilot Security specified in
the Plan and this Rule, unless such quotation or transaction is specifically
exempted under the Plan.
(5) Pilot Securities That Drop
Below $1.00 during the Pilot Period. If the price of a Pilot Security drops
below $1.00 during regular trading on any given business day, such Pilot
Security will continue to be subject to the Plan and the requirements
enumerated in (c)(1)-(3) below and will continue to trade in accordance with
such Rules as if the price of the Pilot Security had not dropped below $1.00.
However, if the Closing Price of a Pilot Security on any given business day is
below $1.00, such Pilot Security will be moved out of its respective Pilot Test
Group into the Control Group, and may then be quoted and traded at any price
increment that is currently permitted by Exchange rules for the remainder of
the Pilot Period. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, at
all times during the Pilot Period, Pilot Securities (whether in the Control
Group or any Pilot Test Group) will continue to be subject to the requirements
contained in Paragraph (b).
(b) Compliance with Data Collection Requirements
(1) Policies and Procedures
Requirement. A Member that operates a Trading Center shall establish, maintain
and enforce written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to
comply with the data collection and transmission requirements of Items I and II
of Appendix B of the Plan, and a Member that is a Market Maker shall establish,
maintain and enforce written policies and procedures that are reasonably
designed to comply with the data collection and transmission requirements of
Item IV of Appendix B of the Plan and Item I of Appendix C of the Plan.
(2) The Exchange shall collect and
transmit to the SEC the data described in Items I and II of Appendix B of the
Plan relating to trading activity in Pre-Pilot Securities and Pilot Securities
on a Trading Center operated by the Exchange. The Exchange shall transmit such
data to the SEC in a pipe delimited format, on a disaggregated basis by Trading
Center, within 30 calendar days following month end for:
(A) Each Pre-Pilot Data Collection
Security for the period beginning six months prior to the Pilot Period through
thirty-one days prior to the first day of the Pilot Period; and
(B) Each Pilot Security for the
period beginning thirty days prior to the first day of the Pilot Period through
six months after the end of the Pilot Period. The Exchange also shall make such
data publicly available on the Exchange web site within 120 calendar days
following month end at no charge and shall not identify the Member that
generated the data.
(3) Daily Market Maker
Participation Statistics Requirement
(A) A Member that is a Market
Maker shall collect and transmit to their DEA data relating to Item IV of
Appendix B of the Plan, with respect to activity conducted on any Trading
Center in Pre-Pilot Securities and Pilot Securities in furtherance of its
status as a Market Maker, including a Trading Center that executes trades
otherwise than on a national securities exchange, for transactions that have
settled or reached settlement date. Market Makers shall transmit such data in a
format required by their DEA by 12:00 p.m. EST on T+4:
(i) For transactions in each
Pre-Pilot Data Collection Security for the period beginning six months prior to
the Pilot Period through thirty-one days prior to the first day of the Pilot
Period; and
(ii) For transactions in each
Pilot Security for the period beginning thirty days prior to the first day of
the Pilot Period through six months after the end of the Pilot Period.
(B) A Member that is a Market
Maker whose DEA is not a Participant to the Plan shall transmit the data
collected pursuant to paragraph (3)(A) above to the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). Market Makers shall transmit
such data in a format required by FINRA by 12:00 p.m. EST on T+4 in accordance
with paragraphs (3)(A)(i) and (ii) above.
(C) The Exchange shall transmit
the data collected by the DEA or FINRA pursuant to paragraphs (3)(A) and (B)
above relating to Market Maker activity on a Trading Center operated by the
Exchange to the SEC in a pipe delimited format within 30 calendar days
following month end. The Exchange shall also make such data publicly available
on the Exchange web site within 120 calendar days following month end at no
charge and shall not identify the Trading Center that generated the data.
(4) Market Maker Profitability
(A) A Member that is a Market
Maker shall collect and transmit to their DEA the data described in Item I of
Appendix C of the Plan with respect to executions on any Trading Center that
have settled or reached settlement date. Market Makers shall transmit such data
in a format required by their DEA by 12:00 p.m. EST on T+4 for executions
during and outside of Regular Trading Hours in each:
(i) Pre-Pilot Data Collection
Security for the period beginning six months prior to the Pilot Period through
thirty-one days prior to the first day of the Pilot Period; and
(ii) Pilot Security for the period
beginning thirty days prior to the first day of the Pilot Period through six
months after the end of the Pilot Period.
(B) A Member that is a Market
Maker whose DEA is not a Participant to the Plan shall transmit the data
collected pursuant to paragraph (4)(A) above to FINRA. Market Makers shall
transmit such data in a format required by FINRA by 12:00 p.m. EST on T+4 for
executions during and outside of Regular Trading Hours in accordance with
paragraphs (4)(A)(i) and (ii) above.
(5) Market Maker Registration
Statistics. The Exchange shall collect and transmit to the SEC the data
described in Item III of Appendix B of the Plan relating to daily Market Maker
registration statistics in a pipe delimited format within 30 calendar days
following month end for:
(A) For transactions in each
Pre-Pilot Data Collection Security for the period beginning six months prior to
the Pilot Period through the trading day immediately preceding the Pilot
Period; and
(B) For transactions in each Pilot
Security for the period beginning on the first day of the Pilot Period through
six months after the end of the Pilot Period.
The Exchange also shall make such
data publicly available on the Exchange web site within 120 calendar days
following month end at no charge.
(c) Compliance with Quoting and Trading Restrictions
(1) Pilot Securities in Test Group
One will be subject to the following requirement: No member may display, rank,
or accept from any person any displayable or non-displayable bids or offers,
orders, or indications of interest in increments other than $0.05. However,
orders priced to trade at the midpoint of the national best bid and national
best offer ("NBBO") or best protected bid and best protected offer
("PBBO") and orders entered in the Exchange's Retail Price
Improvement Program as Retail Price Improvement Orders (as defined in Rule
4780(a)(3)) may be ranked and accepted in increments of less than $0.05. Pilot
Securities in Test Group One may continue to trade at any price increment that
is currently permitted by Equity 1, Section 1(a)(17).
(2) Pilot Securities in Test Group
Two shall be subject to the following requirements:
(A) No member may display, rank,
or accept from any person any displayable or non-displayable bids or offers,
orders, or indications of interest in increments other than $0.05. However,
orders priced to trade at the midpoint of the NBBO or PBBO and orders entered
in the Exchange's Retail Price Improvement Program as Retail Price Improvement
Orders (as defined in Rule 4780(a)(3)) may be ranked and accepted in increments
of less than $0.05.
(B) Absent any of the exceptions
listed in (C) below, no member may execute orders in any Pilot Security in Test
Group Two in price increments other than $0.05. The $0.05 trading increment
will apply to all trades, including Brokered Cross Trades.
(C) Pilot Securities in Test Group
Two may trade in increments less than $0.05 under the following circumstances:
(i) Trading may occur at the
midpoint between the NBBO or the PBBO;
(ii) Retail Investor Orders may be
provided with price improvement that is at least $0.005 better than the PBBO;
(iii) Negotiated Trades may trade
in increments less than $0.05; and
(iv) Execution of a customer order
to comply with IM-2110-2 following the execution of a proprietary trade by the
member at an increment other than $0.05, where such proprietary trade was
permissible pursuant to an exception under the Plan.
(3) Pilot Securities in Test Group
Three shall be subject to the following requirements:
(A) No member may display, rank,
or accept from any person any displayable or non-displayable bids or offers,
orders, or indications of interest in increments other than $0.05. However,
orders priced to trade at the midpoint of the NBBO or PBBO and orders entered
in the Exchange's Retail Price Improvement Program as Retail Price Improvement
Orders (as defined in Rule 4780(a)(3)) may be ranked and accepted in increments
of less than $0.05.
(B) Absent any of the exceptions
listed in (C) below, no member may execute orders in any Pilot Security in Test
Group Three in price increments other than $0.05. The $0.05 trading increment
will apply to all trades, including Brokered Cross Trades.
(C) Pilot Securities in Test Group
Three may trade in increments less than $0.05 under the following
circumstances:
(i) Trading may occur at the
midpoint between the NBBO or PBBO;
(ii) Retail Investor Orders may be
provided with price improvement that is at least $0.005 better than the Best
Protected Bid or the Best Protected Offer;
(iii) Negotiated Trades may trade
in increments less than $0.05; and
(iv) Execution of a customer order
to comply with IM-2110-2 following the execution of a proprietary trade by the
member at an increment other than $0.05, where such proprietary trade was
permissible pursuant to an exception under the Plan.
(D) Pilot Securities in Test Group
Three will be subject to the following Trade-at Prohibition:
(i) "Trade-at
Prohibition" means the prohibition against executions by a Trading Center
of a sell order for a Pilot Security at the price of a Protected Bid or the
execution of a buy order for a Pilot Security at the price of a Protected Offer
during regular trading hours.
(ii) Absent any of the exceptions
listed in (iii) below, no member may execute a sell order for a Pilot Security
in Test Group Three at the price of a Protected Bid or execute a buy order for
a Pilot Security in Test Group Three at the price of a Protected Offer.
(iii) Members may execute a sell
order for a Pilot Security in Test Group Three at the price of a Protected Bid
or execute a buy order for a Pilot Security in Test Group Three at the price of
a Protected Offer if any of the following circumstances exist:
(a) The order is executed as agent
or riskless principal by an independent trading unit, as defined under Rule
200(f) of Regulation SHO, of a Trading Center within a member that has a
displayed quotation as agent or riskless principal, via either a processor or
an SRO Quotation Feed, at a price equal to the traded-at Protected Quotation,
that was displayed before the order was received, but only up to the full
displayed size of that independent trading unit's previously displayed quote;
(b) The order is executed by an independent
trading unit, as defined under Rule 200(f) of Regulation SHO, of a Trading
Center within a member that has a displayed quotation for the account of that
Trading Center on a principal (excluding riskless principal) basis, via either
a processor or an SRO Quotation Feed, at a price equal to the traded-at
Protected Quotation, that was displayed before the order was received, but only
up to the full displayed size of that independent trading unit's previously
displayed quote;
(c) The order is of Block Size at
the time of origin and may not be:
(A) an aggregation of non-block
orders; or
(B) broken into orders smaller
than Block Size prior to submitting the order to a Trading Center for
execution;
(d) The order is a Retail Investor
Order executed with at least $0.005 price improvement;
(e) The order is executed when the
Trading Center displaying the Protected Quotation that was traded at was
experiencing a failure, material delay, or malfunction of its systems or
equipment;
(f) The order is executed as part
of a transaction that was not a "regular way" contract;
(g) The order is executed as part
of a single-priced opening, reopening, or closing transaction on the Exchange;
(h) The order is executed when a
Protected Bid was priced higher than a Protected Offer in the Pilot Security;
(i) The order is identified as a
Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Order;
(j) The order is executed by a
Trading Center that simultaneously routed Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Orders or
Intermarket Sweep Orders to execute against the full displayed size of the
Protected Quotation that was traded at;
(k) The order is executed as part
of a Negotiated Trade;
(l) The order is executed when the
Trading Center displaying the Protected Quotation that was traded at had
displayed, within one second prior to execution of the transaction that
constituted the Trade-at, a Best Protected Bid or Best Protected Offer, as
applicable, for the Pilot Security with a price that was inferior to the price
of the Trade-at transaction;
(m) The order is executed by a
Trading Center which, at the time of order receipt, the Trading Center had
guaranteed an execution at no worse than a specified price (a "stopped
order"), where:
(A) The stopped order was for the
account of a customer;
(B) The customer agreed to the specified
price on an order-by-order basis; and
(C) The price of the Trade-at
transaction was, for a stopped buy order, equal to or less than the National
Best Bid in the Pilot Security at the time of execution or, for a stopped sell
order, equal to or greater than the National Best Offer in the Pilot Security
at the time of execution, as long as such order is priced at an acceptable
increment;
(n) The order is for a fractional
share of a Pilot Security, provided that such fractional share order was not
the result of breaking an order for one or more whole shares of a Pilot
Security into orders for fractional shares or was not otherwise effected to
evade the requirements of the Trade-at Prohibition or any other provisions of
the Plan; or
(o) The order is to correct a bona
fide error, which is recorded by the Trading Center in its error account. A
bona fide error is defined as:
(A) The inaccurate conveyance or
execution of any term of an order including, but not limited to, price, number
of shares or other unit of trading; identification of the security;
identification of the account for which securities are purchased or sold; lost
or otherwise misplaced order tickets; short sales that were instead sold long
or vice versa; or the execution of an order on the wrong side of a market;
(B) The unauthorized or unintended
purchase, sale, or allocation of securities, or the failure to follow specific
client instructions;
(C) The incorrect entry of data
into relevant systems, including reliance on incorrect cash positions,
withdrawals, or securities positions reflected in an account; or
(D) A delay, outage, or failure of
a communication system used to transmit market data prices or to facilitate the
delivery or execution of an order.
(iv) No member shall break an
order into smaller orders or otherwise effect or execute an order to evade the
requirements of the Trade-at Prohibition of this Rule or any other provisions
of the Plan.
(d) Operation of Order Types and Order Attributes
This section sets forth BX's specific procedures for
handling, executing, re-pricing and displaying of certain Order Types and Order
Attributes applicable to Pilot Securities. Unless otherwise indicated, this
section applies to orders in all three Test Group Pilot Securities.
(1) All Order Types. Any Order Type
in a security of any of the Test Groups that requires a price and does not
otherwise qualify for an exception, will not be accepted if it is in a minimum
price increment other than $0.05. This minimum price increment applies to
repricing and rounding by the System, unless otherwise noted below.
Subject to the provisions below, if
the entered limit price of an Order in a Test Group Three Pilot Security,
entered through RASH or FIX, locked or crossed a Protected Quotation and the
NBBO changes so that the Order can be ranked closer to its original entered
limit price, the price of the Order will be adjusted repeatedly in accordance
with changes to the NBBO.
(2) Price to Comply Order. A Price
to Comply Order in a Test Group Pilot Security will operate as described in
Rule 4702(b)(1) except as provided under this paragraph. If a Price to Comply
Order for a Test Group Three Pilot Security is partially executed upon entry
and the remainder would lock a Protected Quotation of another market center,
the unexecuted portion of the Order will be cancelled. If the Order is not
executable against any previously posted orders on the Exchange Book, and the
limit price of a buy (sell) Price to Comply Order in a Test Group Three Pilot
Security would lock or cross a Protected Quotation of another market center,
the Order will display at one minimum price increment below (above) the
Protected Quotation, and the Order will be ranked on the Exchange Book at the
current midpoint of the NBBO.
A Price to Comply Order in a Test
Group Three Pilot Security entered through OUCH or FLITE may be adjusted in the
following manner after initial entry and posting to the Exchange Book:
• If entered at a price that locked
a Protected Quotation, and if the NBBO changes such that it can be ranked and
displayed at the price of the Protected Quotation that it locked, the Price to
Comply Order will be adjusted to rank and display at its original entered limit
price.
• If entered at a price that
crossed a Protected Quotation, and if the NBBO changes such that it can be
ranked at the price of the Protected Quotation it crossed, the Price to Comply
Order, based on the participant's choice, may either be (i) cancelled or (ii)
adjusted to rank at the price of the Protected Quotation it crossed upon entry
with its displayed price remaining unchanged.
• If, after being posted on the
Exchange Book, the non-displayed price of a Price to Comply Order becomes
locked or crossed by a Protected Quotation due to a change in the NBBO, or if
the Price to Comply Order is at an impermissible price under Regulation NMS or
the Plan and it cannot otherwise be adjusted as above, the Price to Comply
Order will be cancelled.
(3) Non-Displayed Order. A
Non-Displayed Order in a Test Group Pilot Security will operate as described in
Rule 4702(b)(3) except as provided under this paragraph. A resting
Non-Displayed Order in a Test Group Three Pilot security cannot execute at the
price of a Protected Quotation of another market center unless the incoming
Order otherwise qualifies for an exception to the Trade-at prohibition provided
under Rule 4770(c)(3)(D). If the limit price of a buy (sell) Non-Displayed
Order in a Test Group Three Pilot Security would lock or cross a Protected
Quotation of another market center, the Order will be ranked on the Exchange
Book at either one minimum price increment below (above) the National Best
Offer (National Best Bid) or at the midpoint of the NBBO, whichever is higher
(lower). If a resting Non-Displayed Order in a Test Group Three Pilot Security
entered through RASH or FIX becomes locked or crossed by a Protected Quotation
due to a change in the NBBO, or if the Non-Displayed Order is at an
impermissible price under Regulation NMS or the Plan, the Non-Displayed Order
will be repriced to a price that is at either one minimum price increment below
(above) the National Best Offer (National Best Bid) or at the midpoint of the
NBBO, whichever is higher (lower) and will receive a new timestamp.
For a Non-Displayed Order in a Test
Group Three Pilot Security entered through OUCH or FLITE, if after such a
Non-Displayed Order is posted to the Exchange Book, the NBBO changes so that
the Non-Displayed Order would no longer be executable at its posted price due
to the requirements of Regulation NMS or the Plan, the Non-Displayed Order will
be cancelled back to the Participant.
A Non-Displayed Order in a Test
Group Three Pilot Security entered through OUCH or FLITE may be adjusted in the
following manner after initial entry and posting to the Exchange Book:
• If entered at a price that locked
a Protected Quotation, and if the NBBO changes such that it can be ranked at
the price of the Protected Quotation that it locked, the Non-Displayed Order
will be adjusted to rank at its original entered limit price.
• If entered at a price that
crossed a Protected Quotation, and if the NBBO changes such that it can be
ranked at the price of the Protected Quotation it crossed, the Order, based on
the Participant's choice, may either be (i) cancelled or (ii) adjusted to rank at
the price of the Protected Quotation it crossed.
• If entered at a price that locked
or crossed a Protected Quotation, and if the NBBO changes such that it cannot
be ranked at the price of the Protected Quotation it locked or crossed but can
be ranked closer to its original limit price, the Non-Displayed Order will be
adjusted to the new midpoint of the NBBO.
• If, after being posted on the
Exchange Book, the Non-Displayed Order becomes locked or crossed by a Protected
Quotation due to a change in the NBBO, or if the Non-Displayed Order is at an
impermissible price under Regulation NMS or the Plan and it cannot otherwise be
adjusted as above, the Non-Displayed Order will be cancelled.
(4) Post-Only Order. A Post-Only
Order in a Test Group Pilot Security will operate as described in Rule
4702(b)(4) except as provided under this paragraph. For orders that are not
attributable, if the limit price of a buy (sell) Post-Only Order in a Test
Group Three Pilot Security would lock or cross a Protected Quotation of another
market center, the Order will display at one minimum price increment below
(above) the Protected Quotation, and the Order will be ranked on the Exchange
Book at the current midpoint of the NBBO.
A Non-Attributable Post-Only Order
in a Test Group Three Pilot Security entered through OUCH or FLITE may be
adjusted in the following manner after initial entry and posting to the
Exchange Book:
• If entered at a price that locked
a Protected Quotation, and if the NBBO changes such that it can be ranked and
displayed at the price of the Protected Quotation that it locked,, the
Post-Only Order will be adjusted to rank and display at its original entered
limit price.
• If entered at a price that
crossed a Protected Quotation, and if the NBBO changes such that it can be
ranked at the price of the Protected Quotation it crossed, the Post-Only Order,
based on the Participant's choice, may either be (i) cancelled or (ii) adjusted
to rank at the price of the Protected Quotation it crossed upon entry with its
displayed price remaining unchanged.
• If, after being posted on the
Exchange Book, the non-displayed price of a resting Post-Only Order becomes
locked or crossed by a Protected Quotation due to a change in the NBBO, or if
the Post-Only Order is at an impermissible price under Regulation NMS or the
Plan and it cannot otherwise be adjusted as above, the Post-Only Order will be
cancelled.
(5) Retail Price Improving Order. A
Retail Price Improving Order in a Test Group Pilot Security will operate as
described in Rule 4702(b)(5) except as provided under this paragraph. A Retail
Price Improving Order in a Test Group Two or Three Pilot Security must be
entered in a minimum price increment of $0.005 and will only execute against
Retail Orders if its price is at least $0.005 better than the NBBO.
(6) Retail Order. A Retail Order in
a Test Group Pilot Security will operate as described in Rule 4702(b)(6) except
as provided under this paragraph. A Retail Order in a Test Group One Pilot
Security must be entered with a limit price in a minimum price increment and
may execute in an increment other than a minimum price increment if the Order
is provided with price improvement that is at least $0.001 better than the
NBBO. A Retail Order in a Test Group Two or Three Pilot Security must be
entered in a minimum price increment and may execute in an increment other than
a minimum price increment if the Order is provided with price improvement that
is at least $0.005 better than the NBBO.
(7) Market Maker
Peg Order. A Market Maker Peg Order in a Test Group Pilot Security will operate
as described in Rule 4702(b)(7) except as provided under this paragraph. The
displayed price of a Market Maker Peg Order in a Test Group Pilot Security will
be rounded up (down) to the nearest minimum price increment for bids (offers),
if it would otherwise display at an increment smaller than the minimum price
increment. For example, if the NBB is $10.05 and NBO is $10.15, and the
Designated Percentage (as defined in Equity 2, Section 5) is 28%, the displayed
price of a Market Maker Peg Order to buy 100 shares of a Test Group Pilot
Security would be $7.25 (i.e., $10.05 - ($10.05 x 0.28) = $7.236, rounded up to
$7.25). Using the same market, but with a Market Maker Peg Order to sell 100
shares, the displayed price of the Order would be $12.95 (i.e., $10.15 +
($10.15 x 0.28) = $12.992, rounded down to $12.95).
(8) Midpoint Pegging. An Order with
Midpoint Pegging in a Test Group Pilot Security will operate as described in
Rule 4703(d) except as provided under this paragraph. An order in a Test Group
Pilot Security with Midpoint Pegging may execute at the midpoint of the NBBO in
an increment other than the minimum price increment.
(9) Reserve Size. An Order with
Reserve Size in a Test Group Pilot Security will operate as described in Rule
4703(h) except as provided under this paragraph. A resting Order in a Test
Group Three Pilot Security with a Reserve Size (either a Price to Comply Order
or a Price to Display Order through RASH or FIX) may not execute the non-displayed
Reserve Size at the price of a Protected Quotation of another market center
unless the incoming Order otherwise qualifies for an exception to the Trade-at
prohibition provided under Rule 4770(c)(3)(D). If an Order with Reserve Size
for a Test Group Three Pilot Security is partially executed upon entry and the
remainder would lock a Protected Quotation of another market center, the
unexecuted portion of the Order will be cancelled. If the Order is not
executable against any previously posted orders on the Exchange Book, and the
limit price of a buy (sell) Price to Comply Order with Reserve Size in a Test
Group Three Pilot Security would lock or cross a Protected Quotation of another
market center, the displayed portion of the Order will display at one minimum
price increment below (above) the Protected Quotation, and the displayed and
non-displayed portions of the Order will be ranked on the Exchange Book at the
current midpoint of the NBBO. If the Order is not executable against any
previously posted orders on the Exchange Book, and the limit price of a buy
(sell) Price to Display Order with Reserve Size in a Test Group Three Pilot
Security would lock or cross a Protected Quotation of another market center,
the displayed portion of the Order will display and be ranked at one minimum
price increment below (above) the Protected Quotation, and the non-displayed
portion of the Order will be ranked on the Exchange Book at the current
midpoint of the NBBO. If after being posted to the Exchange Book, the NBBO changes
so that the Order with Reserve Size in a Test Group Three Pilot Security would
no longer be executable at its ranked price due to the requirements of
Regulation NMS or the Plan, the order will be adjusted in the same manner as
described above.
(10) Good-till-Cancelled. An Order
with a Time-in-Force of Good-till-Cancelled in a Test Group Pilot Security will
operate as described in Rule 4703(a)(3) except as provided under this
paragraph. An order in a Test Group Security with a Good-till-Cancelled Time-in-Force
that is adjusted pursuant to Rule 4761(b) will be adjusted based on a $0.05
increment.
Supplementary Material:
.01 The terms used in this Rule
4770 shall have the same meaning as provided in the Plan, unless otherwise
specified.
.02 For purposes of the reporting
requirement in Appendix B.II.(n), a Trading Center shall report "Y"
to their DEA where it is relying upon the Retail Investor Order exception to
Test Groups Two and Three, and "N" in all other instances.
.03 For purposes of Appendix B.I, the
field "Affected by Limit-Up Limit-Down bands" shall be included. A
Trading Center shall report a value of "Y" to their DEA when the
ability of an order to execute has been affected by the Limit-Up Limit-Down
(LULD) bands in effect at the time of order receipt. A Trading Center shall
report a value of "N" to their DEA when the ability of an order to
execute has not been affected by the LULD bands in effect at the time of order
receipt. For purposes of Appendix B.I, the Participants shall classify all orders
in Pilot and Pre-Pilot Securities that may trade in a foreign market as: (1)
fully executed domestically or (2) fully or partially executed on a foreign
market. For purposes of Appendix B.II, the Participants shall classify all
orders in Pilot and Pre-Pilot Securities that may trade in a foreign market as:
(1) directed to a domestic venue for execution; (2) may only be directed to a
foreign venue for execution; or (3) fully or partially directed to a foreign
venue at the discretion of the Member.
.04
(a) For purposes of Appendix
B.I.a(14), B.I.a(15), B.I.a(21) and B.I.a(22), the time ranges shall be changed
as follows:
(1) Appendix B.I.a(14A): The
cumulative number of shares of orders executed from 100 microseconds to less
than 1 millisecond after the time of order receipt;
(2) Appendix B.I.a(15): The
cumulative number of shares of orders executed from 1millisecond to less than
100 milliseconds after the time of order receipt;
(3) Appendix B.I.a(21A): The
cumulative number of shares of orders canceled from 100 microseconds to less
than 1 millisecond after the time of order receipt; and
(4) Appendix B.I.a(22): The
cumulative number of shares of orders canceled from 1 millisecond to less than
100 milliseconds after the time of order receipt.
(b) For purposes of Appendix
B.I.a(21) through B.I.a(27), unexecuted Immediate or Cancel orders shall be
categorized separately irrespective of the duration of time after order
receipt.
.05 For purposes of Appendix B.I.a(31)-(33), the relevant
measurement is the time of order receipt.
.06 For purposes of Appendix B, the following order types
and numbers shall be included and assigned the following numbers: "not
held" orders (18); clean cross orders (19); auction orders (20); and
orders that cannot otherwise be classified, including orders received when the
NBBO is crossed (21); and limit order priced more than $0.10 away from the NBBO
(22). For purposes of order types 12-14 in Appendix B, such order types shall
include all orders and not solely "resting" orders.
.07 A Member shall not be deemed a Trading Center for
purposes of Appendix B of the Plan where that Member only executes orders
otherwise than on a national securities exchange for the purpose of: (i)
correcting a bona fide error related to the execution of a customer order; (ii)
purchases a security from a customer at a nominal price solely for purposes of
liquidating the customer's position; or (iii) completing the fractional share
portion of an order.
.08 A Trading Center shall begin the data collection
required pursuant to Appendix B.I.a(1) through B.II.(y) of the Plan and Item I
of Appendix C of the Plan on April 4, 2016. The requirement that the Exchange
or their DEA provide information to the SEC within 30 days following month end
pursuant to Appendix B and C of the Plan shall commence at the beginning of the
Pilot Period. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (b)(2)(B),
(b)(3)(C), and (b)(5) of this Rule, with respect to data for the Pre-Pilot and
Pilot Period, the requirement that the Exchange or DEA make Appendix B data
publicly available on the Exchange's or DEA's web site shall commence on August
31, 2017. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b)(4) of this Rule, the
Exchange or DEA shall make Appendix C data for the Pre-Pilot Period through January
2017 publicly available on the Exchange or DEA's web site by February 28, 2017.
.09 For purposes of Appendix B.IV, the count of the number
of Market Makers used in the calculation of share (trade) participation shall
be added to each category. For purposes of Appendix B.IV(b) and (c), share
participation and trade participation shall be calculated by using a total
count instead of a share-weighted average or a trade-weighted average. For
purposes of Appendix B, B.IV(d) (cross-quote share (trade) participation), (e)
(inside-the-quote share (trade) participation), (f) (at-the-quote share (trade)
participation), and (g) (outside-the-quote share (trade) participation), shall
be calculated by reference to the National Best Bid or National Best Offer in effect
immediately prior to the trade.
.10 For purposes of Item I of Appendix C, the Participants
shall calculate daily Market Maker realized profitability statistics for each
trading day on a daily last in, first out (LIFO) basis using reported trade
price and shall include only trades executed on the subject trading day. The
daily LIFO calculation shall not include any positions carried over from
previous trading days. For purposes of Item I.c of Appendix C, the Participants
shall calculate daily Market Maker unrealized profitability statistics for each
trading day on an average price basis. Specifically, the Participants must
calculate the volume weighted average price of the excess (deficit) of buy
volume over sell volume for the current trading day using reported trade price.
The gain (loss) of the excess (deficit) of buy volume over sell volume shall be
determined by using the volume weighted average price compared to the closing
price of the security as reported by the primary listing exchange. In calculating
unrealized trading profits, the Participant also shall report the number of
excess (deficit) shares held by the Market Maker, the volume weighted average
price of that excess (deficit), and the closing price of the security as
reported by the primary listing exchange used in reporting unrealized profit.
.11 "Pre-Pilot Data Collection Securities" are the
securities designated by the Participants for purposes of the data collection
requirements described in Items I, II and IV of Appendix B and Item I of Appendix
C of the Plan for the period beginning six months prior to the Pilot Period
through thirty-one days prior to the Pilot Period. The Participants shall
compile the list of Pre-Pilot Data Collection Securities by selecting all NMS
stocks with a market capitalization of $5 billion or less, a Consolidated
Average Daily Volume (CADV) of 2 million shares or less and a closing price of
$1 per share or more. The market capitalization and the closing price
thresholds shall be applied to the last day of the Pre-Pilot measurement
period, and the CADV threshold shall be applied to the duration of the
Pre-Pilot measurement period. The Pre-Pilot measurement period shall be the
three calendar months ending on the day when the Pre-Pilot Data Collection
Securities are selected. The Pre-Pilot Data Collection Securities shall be
selected thirty days prior to the commencement of the six-month Pre-Pilot
Period.
.12 This Rule shall be in effect during a pilot period to
coincide with the pilot period for the Plan (including any extensions to the
pilot period for the Plan).
.13 For purposes of qualifying for the Block Size exception
under paragraph (c)(3)(D)(iii) of this Rule, the Order must have a size of
5,000 shares or more and the resulting execution upon entry must have a size of
5,000 shares or more in aggregate.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) Definitions.
(1) Retail Member Organization. A
"Retail Member Organization" or "RMO" is a Member (or a
division thereof) that has been approved by the Exchange under this Rule to
submit Retail Orders.
(2) "Retail Order" shall
have the meaning provided in Rule 4702.
(3) "Retail Price Improvement
Order" shall have the meaning provided in Rule 4702.
(4) Other Price Improving
Contra-Side Interest. For purposes of Rule 4780, "Other Price Improving
Contra-Side Interest" shall refer to booked, non-displayed orders that are
priced more aggressively than the NBBO.
(b) Retail Member Organization Qualifications and
Application.
(1) To qualify as a Retail Member
Organization, a Member must conduct a retail business or route retail orders on
behalf of another broker-dealer. For purposes of this Rule, conducting a retail
business shall include carrying retail customer accounts on a fully disclosed
basis.
(2) To become a Retail Member Organization,
a Member must submit:
(A) an application form;
(B) supporting documentation,
which may include sample marketing literature, website screenshots, other
publicly disclosed materials describing the Member's retail order flow, and any
other documentation and information requested by the Exchange in order to
confirm that the applicant's order flow would meet the requirements of the
Retail Order definition; and
(C) an attestation, in a form
prescribed by the Exchange, that substantially all orders submitted as Retail
Orders will qualify as such under this Rule.
(3) After an applicant submits the
application form, supporting documentation, and attestation, the Exchange shall
notify the applicant of its decision in writing.
(4) A disapproved applicant may:
(A) request an appeal of such disapproval by the Exchange as provided in
paragraph (d) below; and/or (B) reapply for Retail Member Organization status
90 days after the disapproval notice is issued by the Exchange.
(5) A Retail Member Organization
may voluntarily withdraw from such status at any time by giving written notice
to the Exchange.
(6) A Retail Member Organization
must have written policies and procedures reasonably designed to assure that it
will only designate orders as Retail Orders if all requirements of a Retail
Order are met. Such written policies and procedures must require the Member to:
(i) exercise due diligence before entering a Retail Order to assure that entry
as a Retail Order is in compliance with the requirements of this Rule, and (ii)
monitor whether orders entered as Retail Orders meet the applicable
requirements. If a Retail Member Organization does not itself conduct a retail
business but routes Retail Orders on behalf of another broker-dealer, the
Retail Member Organization's supervisory procedures must be reasonably designed
to assure that the orders it receives from such other broker-dealer that are
designated as Retail Orders meet the definition of a Retail Order. The Retail
Member Organization must: (i) obtain an annual written representation, in a
form acceptable to the Exchange, from each other broker-dealer that sends the
Retail Member Organization orders to be designated as Retail Orders that entry
of such orders as Retail Orders will be in compliance with the requirements of
this Rule; and (ii) monitor whether Retail Order flow routed on behalf of such
other broker-dealers meets the applicable requirements.
(c) Failure of RMO to Abide by Retail Order Requirements.
(1) If a Retail Member Organization
designates orders submitted to the Exchange as Retail Orders and the Exchange
determines, in its sole discretion, that such orders fail to meet any of the
requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this Rule, the Exchange may
disqualify a Member from its status as a Retail Member Organization.
(2) Disqualification
Determinations. The Exchange shall determine if and when a Member is
disqualified from its status as a Retail Member Organization. When
disqualification determinations are made, the Exchange shall provide a written
disqualification notice to the Member.
(3) Appeal and/or Reapplication for
Retail Member Organization Status. A Retail Member Organization that is
disqualified under this paragraph (c) may: (A) appeal such disqualification as
provided in paragraph (d) below; and/or (B) reapply for Retail Organization
status 90 days after the date of the disqualification notice from the Exchange.
(d) Appeal of Disapproval or Disqualification.
(1) If a Member disputes the
Exchange's decision to disapprove it under paragraph (b) above or disqualify it
under paragraph (c) above, the Member ("appellant") may request,
within five business days after notice of the decision is issued by the
Exchange, that the Retail Price Improvement Panel ("RPI Panel") review
the decision to determine if it was correct.
(2) The RPI Panel shall consist of
the Exchange's Chief Regulatory Officer ("CRO"), or a designee of the
CRO, and two officers of the Exchange designated by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Exchange.
(3) The RPI Panel shall review the
facts and render a decision within the time frame prescribed by the Exchange.
(4) The RPI Panel may overturn or
modify an action taken by the Exchange under this Rule. A determination by the
RPI Panel shall constitute final action by the Exchange.
(e) Retail Liquidity Identifier. If a Participant does not opt out of identifying their RPI interest as such, an identifier shall be
disseminated through proprietary data feeds and through the appropriate
Securities Information Processor when RPI interest priced at least $0.001
better than the NBBO for a particular
security is available in the System ("Retail Liquidity Identifier").
The Retail Liquidity Identifier shall reflect the symbol for the particular
security and the side (buy or sell) of the RPI interest, but shall not include
the price or size of the RPI interest. If a Participant opts out of identifying their RPI interest as such, no Retail Liquidity Identifier will be disseminated.
(f) Retail Order Designation. A Retail Member Organization
can designate how a Retail Order will interact with available contra-side
interest as provided in Rule 4702.
(g) Priority and Order Allocation.
RPI Orders in the same security shall be ranked and
allocated according to price then time of entry into the Systems. Executions
shall occur in price/time priority in accordance with Rule 4757. Any remaining
unexecuted RPI interest will remain available to interact with other incoming
Retail Orders. Any remaining unexecuted portion of the Retail Order will cancel
or execute in accordance with paragraph (f) above.
Examples of priority and order allocation are as follows:
Protected NBBO for security ABC is $10.00 — $10.05
Member 1 enters a RPI Order to buy ABC at $10.015 for 500
Member 2 then enters a RPI Order to buy ABC at $10.02 for
500
Member 3 then enters a RPI Order to buy ABC at $10.035 for
500
An incoming Retail Order to sell ABC for 1,000 executes
first against Member 3's bid for 500 at $10.035, because it is the best priced
bid, then against Member 2's bid for 500 at $10.02, because it is the next best
priced bid. Member 1 is not filled because the entire size of the Retail Order
to sell 1,000 is depleted. The Retail Order executes against RPI Orders in
price/time priority.
However, assume the same facts above, except that Member 2's
RPI Order to buy ABC at $10.020 is for 100. The incoming Retail Order to sell
1,000 executes first against Member 3's bid for 500 at $10.035, because it is
the best priced bid, then against Member 2's bid for 100 at $10.02, because it
is the next best priced bid. Member 1 then receives an execution for 400 of its
bid for 500 at $10.015, at which point the entire size of the Retail Order to
sell 1,000 is depleted.
As a final example, assume the same facts as above, except
that Member 3's order was not a RPI Order to buy ABC at $10.035, but rather, a
Non-Displayed Order to buy ABC at $10.03. The result would be similar to the
result immediately above, in that the incoming Retail Order to sell 1,000
executes first against Member 3's bid for 500 at $10.03, because it is the best
priced bid, then against Member 2's bid for 100 at $10.02, because it is the
next best priced bid. Member 1 then receives an execution for 400 of its bid
for 500 at $10.015, at which point the entire size of the Retail Order to sell
1,000 is depleted.
(h) The Program will be limited to
securities whose Bid Price on the Exchange is greater than or equal to $1.00 per
share.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended Jun. 25, 2019 (SR-BX-2019-011); amended Aug. 24, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-014), operative Oct. 26, 2022; amended Dec. 1, 2022 (SR-BX-2022-025).