Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),
NASDAQ proposes a rule change to disclose publicly the sources of data, whether from the network processors or from direct data feeds, that NASDAQ utilizes when performing (1) order handling and execution; (2) order routing; and (3) related compliance processes.
In its filing with the Commission, NASDAQ included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements.
In her June 5, 2014 market structure speech, the Chair requested that all national securities exchanges review and disclose their policies and procedures governing the market data used when performing important exchange functions.
We believe there is a need for clarity regarding whether (1) the SIP data feeds, (2) proprietary data feeds, or (3) a combination thereof, are used by the exchanges for purposes of (1) order handling and execution (
NASDAQ fully supports the Commission's efforts to provide more clarity in this area. In fact, in 2011, NASDAQ disclosed its general practices governing the use of market data in the handling, execution, and routing of orders on NASDAQ:
The Exchange is also changing its policies and procedures under Regulation NMS governing the data feeds used by its execution system and routing engine. Current policies state that those systems use data provided by the network processors. In the future, those systems will use data provided either by the network processors or by proprietary feeds offered by certain exchanges directly to vendors. The determination of which data feed to utilize will be the same as the determination made with respect to the [MatchView] Feed. In other words, the Exchange execution system, routing engine and Feed will each utilize the same data for a given exchange. . . .
Although, as described above, NASDAQ publicly disclosed its general practice of consuming data from a combination of network processor and proprietary data feeds, NASDAQ did not disclose the specific feeds NASDAQ utilizes for each individual exchange, and it did not describe its data usage practice with respect to related compliance checks.
Through this proposed rule change, NASDAQ is publicly clarifying on a market-by-market basis the specific network processor and proprietary data feeds that NASDAQ utilizes for the handling, routing, and execution of orders, and for performing the regulatory compliance checks related to each of those functions. These complex practices are governed by a few, simple principles that are designed to ensure that NASDAQ has the most accurate view of the trading interest available across multiple markets, and to maximize the synchronization of the many exchange functions that depend upon the calculation of an accurate NBBO and top-of-book for each market. These principles are:
1. NASDAQ uses a proprietary data feed from each exchange that provides a reliable proprietary data feed. Where no reliable proprietary data feed is available, NASDAQ uses the network processor feed;
2. Where NASDAQ uses a proprietary data feed for an exchange quote, it also maintains access to the network processor feed as a back-up in the event a specific proprietary feed become unavailable or unusable for any reason;
3. NASDAQ uses the same proprietary data feed when performing order handling, routing, and execution functions, and also when the execution and routing system performs internal compliance checks related to those functions; and
4. NASDAQ acquires and processes all proprietary and network processor feeds via the same technological
5. NASDAQ calculates the National Best Bid and Offer (“NBBO”) and top-of-book for each exchange at a single point within the NASDAQ system, and then distributes that data simultaneously to numerous applications performing order handling,
As of the date of this filing, NASDAQ utilizes the following data feeds for the handling, execution and routing of orders, as well as for performing related compliance checks:
NASDAQ uses these feeds to calculate the NBBO via an application called the “NMSFeed.” The NMSFeed consumes the NASDAQ Protected Quote Service (“NPQS”), which provides an internal view of that exchange's own market data as NASDAQ ITCH, plus the proprietary and network processor market data feeds listed above. The NMSFeed calculates a Regulation NMS-Compliant “Best Bid or Offer” (“Compliant BBO”), and then delivers that information throughout the NASDAQ System, including to the “OUCH” order entry ports,
Upon receipt of an update to a protected quote for a specific venue, the NMSFeed updates its quote for that venue, recalculates the consolidated BBO based upon the update, and recalculates the Compliant BBO after applying NASDAQ's own BBO. Any quote that crosses NASDAQ's BBO is ignored. NASDAQ odd lot orders at the same price are aggregated and considered in the NBBO calculation if the sum is greater than or equal to a round lot. Otherwise, they are not considered in the NBBO calculation. Out of the remaining quotes, the most aggressive remaining bid and offer (excluding NASDAQ
The NASDAQ OMX Routing and Special Handling System (“RASH”) utilizes the Compliant BBO to determine if and when an order with special processing directives is marketable either against one or more orders in either the Core Matching System or a remote trading venue. RASH also receives market data feeds from certain venues not displaying protected quotes in the national market system for use in “QDRK” and “QCST” routing strategies set forth in NASDAQ Rule 4758(a)(1)(A)(xiii) [sic] and (xiv) [sic], respectively. RASH maintains a number of routing processes, or Routers, unique to each venue that the System accesses. These Routers maintain a limited set of details for orders that are configured as routable by the user, while also monitoring the current best bid and best offer prices on each exchange.
The NASDAQ system includes internal compliance applications related to locked and crossed markets, trade throughs, limit-up/limit-down, and Regulation SHO compliance. Each of these applications utilizes the Compliant BBO to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
NASDAQ operates a separate real-time surveillance system that is external to the execution systems and that monitors the execution system's compliance with applicable rules and regulations. The real-time surveillance system utilizes a “mirrored” version of the internal NMSFeed in various realtime surveillance patterns, including (1) Lock/Cross, which detects lock/cross events across all markets, regardless of whether or not NASDAQ is a participant in the event; (2) Trade Through, which detects potential trade through events for all three NASDAQ equity markets; and (3) RegSho, which detects potential RegSho violations, alerting when a trade executes at or below the NBB at the time of order entry while the stock is in a RegSho restricted state.
In addition to the operational transparency provided above, NASDAQ is also proposing to add Rule 4759, which will provide for the public display of the proprietary and network processor feeds that NASDAQ utilizes in the order handling, routing, and
NASDAQ believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended.
Written comments were neither solicited nor received.
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission will institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
• Use the Commission's Internet comment form (
• Send an email to
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.