SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts proposes to change MOC timings for Chicago BCX gasoline, ULSD

S&P Global Platts plans to change the timing and increment guidelines for the gasoline and ULSD Chicago Buckeye Complex (BCX) Market on Close assessment process, with effect from April 15.

The change is aimed at bringing greater efficiency to the MOC process that is used to assess these benchmark prices.

Under the proposed changes, the maximum price increment for firm bids and offers during the MOC process for these markets would change to $0.0025/gal every 30 seconds, from $0.0025/gal every 60 seconds currently; the reaction time to repeat an order following a trade would change to 30 seconds, from 60 seconds currently; and the cutoff time for price changes would change to 1:29:00.000 pm CT, from 1:28:00:00 pm CT currently.

In addition, a change in price or repeat of a firm bid or offer in the last 20 seconds prior to the 1:30 pm CT market close would trigger an extension state and the latter would last one minute. Currently, any change in price or repeat of a firm bid or offer in the last 30 seconds prior to the 1:30 pm CT market close would trigger an extension state that would last two minutes.

The proposed changes are designed to coincide with the launch of eWindow instruments for the Chicago BCX gasoline and ULSD MOC process, and will bring the methodology in line with similar timings and incrementability standards in other US refined product markets that are facilitated by the Platts Editorial Window or eWindow tool.

Platts has established clearly defined timing guidelines and standards of incrementability that apply when publishing firm bids and offers in the MOC process, in order to ensure an orderly and transparent price assessment process.

Please send any feedback or questions by March 31, 2019, to americas_products@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request