Abstract: A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. The price consolidation feature of the present invention, as described herein, enables a trader to consolidate a number of prices in order to condense the display. Such action allows a trader to view a greater range of prices and a greater number of orders in the market at any given time. By consolidating prices, and therefore orders, a trader reduces the risk of a favorable order scrolling from the screen prior to filling a bid or ask on that order at a favorable price.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and associated method for analyzing investment information. An input unit receives a financial request and one or more investment variables relating to the financial indicator and a description vector unit generates at least two vectors containing the one or more investment variables based on the financial request. A description vector similarity unit then calculates a similarity value by comparing the at least two vectors and an investment analysis unit analyzes the similarity value and the financial request, and determines investment advice based on results of the analysis.

Abstract: An enhanced system and method for handling, matching and executing discretionary orders in an electronic options environment is disclosed. Market maker entitlements are integrated with the discretionary order processing, so that the market maker is guaranteed an allocation of the trade if the market maker is at the NBBO when an incoming discretionary order priced at or better than the NBBO is received. If the incoming discretionary order cannot execute at the NBBO using its display price, then it will use as much discretion as is required to participate in a market maker entitlement if the market maker is quoting at the NBBO, and to execute against the order book and route to away markets quotations at the NBBO. Once posted to the order book, only the display price of a discretionary order is eligible for preferential execution in a market maker entitlement process.

Abstract: An Internet service provider uses virtual machines dedicated to one (or a few) customers to perform transactions on behalf of those customers, where the transactions require sensitive or confidential user authentication data. Each virtual machine only has access to the user authentication data it needs to perform the transactions for its dedicated customers, not authentication data for all the customers of the service provider. Virtual machines are shut clown when not performing transactions or interacting with customers, thus further reducing the risk of disclosure of the confidential user authentication data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: Disclosed are computer-implemented systems and software comprising a software module configured to provide financial product education, research, and recommendation tools, the tools operating in a self-service mode adapted for use by a consumer; a software module configured to provide the financial product education, research, and recommendation tools, the tools operating in a collaboration mode, the collaboration mode comprising a sales overlay adapted for use by a sales representative; and a software module configured to generate a unique code for the consumer, the code providing persistence of state and data information between the self-service mode and the collaboration mode across locations and interfaces without authentication. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Systems and methods for matching orders are provided. One or more trade templates are created. The trade templates define groups of orders for financial instruments that may be combined such that all of the orders are matched. A collection of tradable price levels is also created for each template. New orders and resting orders are analyzed using one or more trade templates and tradable price levels to determine whether a combination of orders satisfies all of the elements of a trade template with a required price level. When all of the elements of a trade template are satisfied and an order with a tradable price level is received, the corresponding orders may be matched contemporaneously.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a credit card with multiple lines of credit. One of the disclosed methods include, for example, analyzing credit information of a cardholder to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder; establishing a general purpose credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the general purpose credit line being set as a revolving credit line; establishing a private label credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the private label credit line being set as a revolving credit line; and issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established general purpose credit line and private label credit line.

Abstract: A system for trading commodities and the like comprising a computer, a communications link between the computer and the Internet, a database, accessible by the computer, containing a plurality of user files wherein each of the user files contains a plurality of transaction parameters corresponding to one or more indications associated with the user file. The transaction parameters govern the presentation and acceptance of indications associated therewith. The system further includes a database, accessible by the computer, containing a plurality of indications wherein each of the indications contains information corresponding to open bids or offers for commodities, and an indication selection submitted by a user over the communications link.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing order placement in an electronic trading environment are provided. Global queue holder orders are placed in a tradeable object to reserve quantity for traders. Traders may submit order requests for quantity at price levels at which a global queue holder order is holding quantity. When a trader submits an order for a quantity at a price level at which quantity is being held, a gateway compares the order to the global queue holder order information stored in a database. If the trader's order coincides with a price level at which quantity is held, then the gateway virtually transfers ownership of that quantity to the trader, who then assumes the advantageous queue position. When the quantity associated with the order is filled, the fill information is sent to the gateway, which to the database to determine which trader is associated with the filled order quantity.

Abstract: First and second components of the present invention, in combination, provide a customer interface for initiating a trade transaction and provides for the secure viewing of the status of the transaction. A third component assists in the automatic generation and verification of the voluminous and detailed documents required to support a trade transaction. The third component additionally tracks and assists in the management of the seller's manufacturing and shipment of the goods that form the basis of the trade transaction. A fourth component automatically generates a Letter of Credit from a Purchase Order and performs a reconciliation function on payments made pursuant to Letters of Credit or open Accounts.

Abstract: Financial advisory methods and systems for creating a steady lifetime income stream within an investment plan is provided. According to one embodiment, based on an investor's current holdings in the investment plan, a pattern of periodic cash payouts is identified that can be made to the investor from an in-plan payout program implemented with the limited universe of financial products available within the investment plan. The assets of the investment plan are rebalanced to form a payout portfolio and an equity exposure portfolio. The payout portfolio is constructed to create an annuity-like stream of income to support the pattern of periodic cash payouts and includes multiple bond funds. The equity exposure portfolio is constructed to address inflation risk by providing an ability to rise with equities markets. Finally, a periodic cash payout of the pattern of periodic cash payouts is caused to be paid to the investor from the investment plan.

Abstract: A method for generating an integrated family of benchmarks representing portfolio allocations for a participant is described. At least two assets for a portfolio are identified. A current market rate for at least one of the assets and an expected inflation for a predetermined time period are determined via a computing device. The computing device determines a portfolio allocation to each asset based on the current market rate and the expected inflation so as to define a process for obtaining inflation-protected income for a predetermined number of years and then non-inflation protected income for subsequent years. The identified assets and the portfolio allocations are published via a network.

Abstract: A method for facilitating sale of a loan by a seller to a purchaser where the seller and the purchaser have an agreement regarding the sale of loans including terms and the loan has a set of loan data. The method includes determining a price for the loan prior to selling the loan to the purchaser. The price is based on at least the set of loan data and the terms for the agreement. The method also includes applying a set of business rules to the set of loan data prior to selling the loan to the purchaser to identify compliance with terms of the agreement and/or errors in the loan data.

Abstract: A system for remote data acquisition and centralized processing and storage provides comprehensive support for processing documents and electronic data associated with different applications including sales, business, banking and general consumer transactions. The system retrieves transaction data such as credit card receipts or checks in either electronic or paper form at one or more remote locations, encrypts the data, transmits the encrypted data to a central location, transforms the data to a usable form, performs identification verification using signature data and biometric data, generates informative reports from the data and transmits the informative reports to the remote location(s), providing high performance, security, reliability, fault tolerance and low cost.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for trading using a central counterparty which allows market participants to minimize risk and/or transactional fees associated with a portfolio of bilateral positions without substantially altering a risk profile thereof. In particular, the disclosed embodiments allow a market participant holding a portfolio of heterogeneous bilateral positions, such as positions in interest rate swap (“IRS”) contracts, to net together similar but not identical positions within their portfolio, thereby reducing margin requirements and/or transaction fees, according to criteria specified by the market participant, and which may be different from criteria specified by other market participants, wherein the overall risk exposure desired by the market participant in entering into the positions remains substantially unchanged as does the desired overall risk exposure of the counterparty market participants to those positions.

Abstract: A computer-based network auction system and method where geographically dispersed aircraft operators solicit competitive quotes for fuel and services from geographically dispersed FBOs, and FBOs submit quotes and communicate and market directly to aircraft operators planning trips to the FBOs airport or nearby airports.

Abstract: A system and method manages an ETF having shares traded on an exchange, having been provided by the ETF via an authorized participant. The ETF provides a distribution to such shareholders according to a set of distribution rules, which are published in advance. The distribution is paid using income derived from the capital assets of the ETF. If such income is insufficient to pay the distribution according to the rules, the capital assets of the ETF are used to pay the distribution to the shareholders to the extent that income is insufficient to pay the distribution according to the distribution rules.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a generating method for transaction models with indicators for option. The method comprises: (S1) collecting a variety of indicators from the financial market; (S2) establishing an indicator pool saved with the indicators; (S3) distinguishing and classifying the indicators by Neural Network; (S4) determining a plurality of transaction models, the indicator of each transaction model in an independent classification; (S5) determining a date parameter for each indicator; (S6) deleting a part of the transaction models; (S7) determining a plurality of final transaction models from another transaction models; and (S8) determining a weight of each final transaction model.

Abstract: A system and method for trading and displaying market information along a static axis are described to ensure fast and accurate execution of trades. The static axis, whether is a straight axis or a curved one, can be oriented in any direction. Regardless of how the axis is oriented, a first region may display price levels that are arranged along the static axis. A second region, which overlaps the first region, may display one or more indicators for highlighting one of the price levels associated with the lowest offer and one of the price levels associated with the highest bid. Moreover, a third region, which overlaps the first region, may be included for initiating placement of an order to buy or an order to sell the tradeable object through an action of a user input device. Other overlapping regions may also be displayed so that additional market information may be viewed by a trader.