Nasdaq Adds Emergency Brake for New Product Trading Days
Published Date: 5/27/2025
Notice
Summary
Nasdaq is rolling out a new feature that lets them pause trading for new Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) on their very first day, just like they do for IPOs. This change helps keep things smooth and fair when new products hit the market, affecting traders and investors starting May 2025. It’s a smart move to avoid wild price swings and give everyone a fair shot at trading.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Optional Launch-Day Halt for ETPs
If you trade or invest in exchange-traded products (ETPs), Nasdaq now allows an issuer to opt into an optional launch-day trading halt called the "Initial ETP Open" that delays opening until Market Hours and uses the Nasdaq Halt Cross. This rule was approved May 20, 2025, and gives issuers the choice to open at 4:00 a.m. ET as today or delay opening until Market Hours under the new process.
DLP-Controlled Price Bands for Openings
A Designated Liquidity Provider (DLP) may select upper and lower price bands that the Nasdaq Halt Cross must meet for an Initial ETP Open; available bands range from $0.00 up to $0.50 with initial increments of $0.01 and the default band is $0.00. Nasdaq will set price bands exchange-wide and will not allow bands wider than $0.50 without a new rule change.
Free IPO Workstation Access for DLPs and Issuers
Nasdaq will allow subscribing Designated Liquidity Providers (member firms) and non-member ETP issuers to subscribe to the Nasdaq IPO Workstation at no cost so they can view IPO Indicator information for ETPs subject to the Initial ETP Open. This provides DLPs and ETP issuers the same detailed order and imbalance information that member firms receive for IPOs.
Implementation Notice Timing
Nasdaq will announce the implementation date of the Initial ETP Open feature by issuing an Equity Trader Alert no later than the second quarter of 2025. The Commission approved the proposed rule change on May 20, 2025.
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