Rule 5.12.2(a): Whether the execution of the transaction is inconsistent with the recent trading activity in the security or futures contract, taking into account prevailing market conditions.

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Trading Members and Trading Representatives would generally be familiar with the patterns of trading in each security or futures contract. They are therefore expected to exercise judgment, based on their experience and knowledge of trading in the security or futures contract, in assessing the likely impact of a proposed transaction on the market for a security or futures contract. This is especially so if the execution of the transaction would result in a significant change in the price (which is inconsistent with the recent trading activity in the security or futures contract, including the intra-day, daily, weekly or monthly price range) and represent a significant proportion of the daily traded volume in the security or futures contract.

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The Rule does not prevent a Trading Member or Trading Representative from executing an order simply because it will have an impact on the market for, or the price of, a security or futures contract.

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Rule 5.12.2(b): Whether the execution of the transaction is likely to cause or contribute to a material change in the price of, or the market for, the security or futures contract, and whether the person involved or another person with whom the first person is collaborating may directly or indirectly benefit from alterations in the market or price.

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In the absence of a good reason to buy or sell quickly, customers generally want to obtain the best price. A Trading Member or Trading Representative who receives an order that would materially alter the market for, or the price for, the security or futures contract, should consider whether it is genuine or manipulative.

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Trading Members and Trading Representatives must also know their customers. Orders placed by a customer or a related party of that customer, who may have an interest in creating a material change in the market for, or the price of, a particular security or futures contract, should be closely examined.

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Examples:

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Rule 5.12.2(c): Whether the execution of the transaction involves the placing of multiple buy and sell orders at various prices higher or lower than the market price, or the placing of buy and sell orders that give the appearance of increased volume.

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A Trading Member or Trading Representative should not make large entries above or below the prevailing spread to facilitate filling an order on the other side of the market. The placing of buy (or sell) orders at various price steps below (or above) the market may create a false or misleading appearance that the entries are on behalf of genuine buyers (or sellers). The layering of orders also translates into a change in the depth screen and may mislead market participants with respect to interest in the counter.

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Rule 5.12.2(d): Whether the execution of the transaction is likely to coincide with or is likely to influence the calculation of reference prices, settlement prices and valuations.

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A Trading Member or Trading Representative should consider carefully any orders placed with instructions to execute them in or near the Closing Routine, particularly if a price target is set. A Trading Member or Trading Representative should also be alert to orders placed in or near the Closing Routine on the last trading day of the month, quarter or year, or on the expiry dates of options, warrants or futures contracts, which will move the price when executed.

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A customer who, to the knowledge of the Trading Member or Trading Representative, declines the opportunity to obtain a better price during the day and prefers to pay a higher (or lower) price in or near the Closing Routine should be queried as to the strategy. This is important if the order is to buy (or sell) a small volume of the security or futures contract, which is likely to move the price and possibly fix the closing price. Further, if the Trading Member or Trading Representative received a series of similar orders over a number of days, each of which generated a price movement in or near the Closing Routine, the Trading Member or Trading Representative should be satisfied that the customer is not attempting to create a false or misleading appearance with respect to the price of the security or futures contract.

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Examples:

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Rule 5.12.2(e): Whether parties involved in the transaction are connected or associated with each other.

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A concern here might arise if the security or futures contract is held in the name of a colluding party but the market risk actually remains with the seller. There may effectively be no change in beneficial interest.

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Rule 5.12.2(f): Whether the order or orders for the purchase (or sale) of a security or futures contract is or are entered with the knowledge that an order or orders of substantially the same size, at substantially the same time, and at substantially the same price, for the sale (or purchase) of the security or futures contract has been or will be entered by or for the same or different parties (excluding Direct Business).

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The time proximity of orders and the fact that they are for substantially the same price (particularly if the price is out-of-range) and quantity may suggest that the transaction is pre-arranged. Pre-arranged transactions have the effect of creating a false or misleading appearance of active trading, or improperly excluding other market participants from the transaction since the first bid or offer was not adequately exposed to the market.

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Pre-arranged trading can create an unfair market as it is, in substance, executing risk-free transactions at pre-determined prices rather than at market prices. As the transfer of beneficial interest or market risk (if any) is only between persons who are acting in concert or collusion, there is essentially no legitimate commercial rationale behind pre-arranged transactions. Likewise, a Trading Representative who consistently matches his own buy and sell orders may be considered to have engaged in pre-arranged trading as the transactions are unlikely to be executed for a legitimate economic purpose.

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The execution of crossings or transactions between the same parties for the same volumes, which are subsequently reversed at the same prices, also raises questions whether the transactions involve a change in beneficial ownership, or are for rollover of trades to extend settlement, or for a purpose of engaging in a circular trading scheme to create the impression of turnover.

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Rule 5.12.2(g): Whether the execution of the transaction is likely to cause the price of the security or futures contract to increase or decrease, but following which the price is likely to immediately return to about its previous level.

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The key question in this area is whether there appears to be any logical trading pattern to the price and volume of the security or futures contract, or whether it seems erratic. Trading is manipulative if it is intended to move the price of the security or futures contract.

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Rule 5.12.2(h): Whether the bid (or offer) is higher (or lower) than the previous bid (or offer) but is withdrawn or amended to avoid execution.

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This could indicate that the order is not genuine, especially where a distinctive pattern of such orders is observed. At the time the bid (or offer) was made, the Trading Member or Trading Representative did not intend to buy (or sell), but intended that the bid (or offer) would not trade and would be withdrawn eventually. Sometimes, such orders are entered to induce buyers (or sellers) into the market to facilitate the filling of an order on the other side of the market.

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Circumstances that should be carefully reviewed by Trading Members and Trading Representatives include where there is a particularly high ratio of order to trade volume or a record of actively entering and amending orders on both sides of the order book but only trading on one side.

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Rule 5.12.2(i): Whether the volume or size of the order or transaction is excessive relative to reasonable expectations of the depth and liquidity of the market at the time.

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This Rule does not restrict Trading Members and Trading Representatives trading significant volumes where there is a legitimate purpose for the transaction and where the transaction is executed in a proper manner. However, trading significant volumes with the purpose of controlling the price of a security or futures contract will amount to manipulative trading.

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Example:

A Trading Representative purchased substantial volume in a thinly traded counter, which accounted for a large proportion of the market volume, to establish a predetermined price. Sometimes, this may be followed by up-ticking the bid despite the absence of bona fide investor demand for the security or futures contract.

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In the same vein, entering excessively large order(s) that is disproportionate to the depth of the order book may be manipulative, as it can create an imbalance between the quantum of demand and supply on the order book and in turn, mislead market participants with respect to interest in the security or futures contract.

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Rule 5.12.2(j): Whether the buy (or sell) order is likely to trade with the entire best offer (or bid) volume and part of the offer (or bid) at the next price level.

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If a customer regularly buys (or sells) on the up-tick (or down-tick) in the face of consistent selling (or buying) pressure, the Trading Member or Trading Representative should query whether the customer is a bona fide purchaser (or seller). Repetitive orders to clear the best offer (or bid) volume, particularly within a short time, suggest that the Trading Member or Trading Representative might be attempting to break the market. The trading spikes or troughs were meant to excite the market and attract spectators to join in.

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Rule 5.12.2(k): Whether the buy (or sell) order forms part of a series of orders that successively and consistently increase (or decrease) the price of the security or futures contract.

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If a customer places a sell order well above the best ask and one or more buy orders which would increase the price towards the customer's ask price, a Trading Member or Trading Representative should query the customer as to the strategy. It may be that the buy orders are intended to get the price running and facilitate the sale at the higher price. Illiquid securities or futures contracts, in particular, are susceptible to this type of improper trading.

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Rule 5.12.2(l): Whether there appears to be a legitimate commercial reason for the transaction.

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Many orders for legitimate commercial reasons can change the market for, or the price of, a security or futures contract when executed. Such orders are acceptable despite the volume and/or price impact, but the Trading Member or Trading Representative must consider any additional intentions that may exist and execute the order in an appropriate manner, bearing in mind its or his obligations, including the requirement to maintain an orderly market.

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Examples:

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