Abstract: The invention relates to a tool for estimating a pre-trade implementation shortfall for financial instruments. Through evaluating a number of factors, including the size of the order, the average daily volume of the stock, the average bid-ask spread of the stock, the volatility of the stock and the exchange on which the stock trades, the present invention estimates the cost of a trade. Using the disclosed system and method, a trader or fund manager may determine when and how to implement trades of varying size.

Abstract: An electronic trading system is provided that includes a plurality of trader terminals for receiving credit parameter data, arbitrage parameter data, and trading data from a trading entity and displaying trade information to the trading entity. The trading data includes bid and/or offer information input by the trading entity. The system further includes a computer connected to the plurality of trader terminals via a communications network which receives and stores the credit parameter data and the trading data from the plurality of trader terminals. The system may include a detector circuit or program for automatically detecting an available arbitrage opportunity including a plurality of trades based on the credit parameter data, the arbitrage parameter data, and the trading data; and a circuit or program for automatically executing the available arbitrage opportunity by executing all of the plurality of trades.