Tag 50 first, now Tag 1028 is a focus for CME (hint - has to do with how a trade gets there)

DCM has posted a number of disciplinary actions regarding Tag 50 - the Globex Operator ID data field on a CME message. The CME issued a Market Advisory Notice today that adds Tag 1028 - the "automated or manual indicator" to that high priority list. What is this Tag?

In the notice, the CME spells it out simply:

"Manual order entry refers to orders that are submitted to CME Globex by an individual directly entering the order into a front-end system, typically via keyboard, mouse or touch screen, and which is routed in its entirety to the match engine at the time of submission"
"Automated order entry refers to orders that are generated and/or routed without human intervention. This includes any order generated by a computer system as well as orders that are routed using functionality that manages order submission through automated means (i.e. execution algorithm)."

The industry has commonly referred to "algo trading" as something where there is a complex system developing trading orders. This Market Advisory would expand that definition of automated to, in DCM's opinion, to include a analysis system in an OMS (order management system) that, under identified conditions, enters a trade on behalf of the trader. This could also mean a spreadsheet system that has a link to drop a trade into the OMS. The advisory specifically indicates that "orders generated by automated means, including via automated spreading functionality, must be properly identified with the value “N” in Tag 1028." (the "N" tag indicates an automated order - manual orders are a "Y" value)
This begins to make sense to us here at DCM. There has been a significant number of electronic audit trail summary fines for broker/dealers failing to maintain a complete and accurate audit trail of customer orders. It is not stated that this advisory follows on that set of reviews but a major point raised in the advisory regarding proper inclusion of the Tag 1028 information:

"This has been a required data element on CME iLink interface order submissions since June 2011 and is now being added as a regulatory requirement. "
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It should be noted there was a prior advisory - MRAN RA1210-5 (cited in this advisory) that indicated this was a required field but did not include the "regulatory requirement" language. That order was issued September 20, 2012.

This indicates that the CME may begin considering the failure to include or inaccurate listing of the Tag 1028 value on a Globex order in a similar manner as it considers an improper Tag 50 value or usage - which had been seen to carry high 5 digit fines and suspension of trading privileges on CME. This escalates the importance of getting Tag 1028 information correct.
DCM and firms it works with have the ability to help companies review their Tag 1028 information and their internal order generation, assess if there are gaps in their controls, and revise those controls.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss this or other regulatory issues.

The full CME advisory notice is here