Nasdaq reminds members of The Options Clearing Corporation’s (OCC) rule requiring an Actionable Identifier to be provided on all customer and firm option trades.

Effective May 6, 2019, OCC received SEC approval to amend Rule 401 to require an Actionable Identifier be included on all customer and firm trades submitted to OCC for processing. The Actionable Identifier is not required for Market Maker trades. The Actionable Identifier on customer and firm trades will allow OCC Clearing Members to more timely identify trades resulting in increased efficiency in clearing.

No later than December 7, 2020, OCC will require that all customer and firm trades must include an Actionable Identifier.

OCC suggests OCC Clearing Members determine how they plan to use the Actionable Identifier in their processing. Once determined how the data will be used, OCC Clearing Members should collaborate with OCC Executing Clearing Members to determine the appropriate identifier. More information can be found on the OCC website.

The Nasdaq option exchanges will support Actionable Identifiers over Financial Information Exchange (FIX), OUCH to Trade Options (OTTO), Nasdaq Precise (Precise), and through the Floor Based Management System (FBMS). FIX users will populate the Actionable Identifier FIX Tag 1 (Customer ID field). OTTO users will populate the “CustAcct” field. Precise users will populate the “Account No” field. Nasdaq PHLX (PHLX) Floor Broker Firms will populate the “Cust” field on FBMS.

If you have any questions please reach out to Market Operations at 1 215 496 1571 or via email at optionshelpdesk@nasdaq.com.