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 “Mercury” display and trading method of the present invention ensure fast and accurate execution of trades by displaying market depth on a vertical or horizontal plane, which fluctuates logically up or down, left or right across the plane as the market prices fluctuates. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: In a multi-unit combinatorial auction, reverse auction, or exchange, a number of bids can be received, with each bid including one or more items and for each item a desired quantity thereof. Each bid also includes a price. A number of unique combinations of bids can be formed from the received bids, and the one combination of bids which represents the best value in terms of an auction setting, a reverse auction setting and/or an exchange setting can be determined. Thereafter, the bids forming this combination can be declared the winning bids of the auction, reverse auction or exchange.

Abstract: A margin requirement is computed while trading. The margin requirement may be calculated while trading because the preferred system takes into account working orders to generate the margin requirement. The on the fly possibility allows the preferred system to provide pre-trade risk calculations, but can also be used to provide post-trade calculations. A generic spread number and the maximum number of outright positions are determined. Average expirations for the generic spread are computed. Using the spread positions, the average expirations and the maximum number of outright positions, a spread margin and an outright margin are calculated, which when summed provide a total margin requirement. Limits based in part on the total margin requirement may be imposed on one or more traders.

Abstract: The cross correlation tool is used to quickly understand and describe the composition of an asset portfolio and the response of a user selected variable versus other variables in the portfolio. The tool is also used to quickly identify unexpectedly high or low correlation between two attribute variables and the response variable. Identification of unexpected correlations improves understanding of the portfolio data and the decisions regarding a potential purchase of the portfolio. Attribute variables are of two types, continuous and categorical. The cross correlations are computed between all variables of interest and their bin or level and presented in a two dimensional matrix for easy identification of trends.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading commodities on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. Click based trading, as described herein and specifically the “Click” and “Dime” methods of the present invention, enables a trader to execute single mouse click trades for large volumes of commodities at a price within a pre-specified range.

Abstract: A withdrawal of assets is initiated from a first account at a first financial institution. A deposit of the assets withdrawn from the first account is initiated to a second account at a second financial institution. The first account and the second account have a common account holder. The withdrawal and deposit of assets may be initiated after analyzing multiple accounts of the account holder and determining whether an adjustment of funds among the multiple accounts would benefit the account holder. A debit instruction is used to initiate the withdrawal of assets and a credit instruction is used to initiate the deposit of the withdrawn assets. The withdrawal and deposit of assets can be implemented using one or more payment networks, debit networks, or a wire transfer between the two financial institutions.

Abstract: A business-to-business transaction clearinghouse integrates the traditional point-to-point business supply chain at the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse provides cost effective access to a wide variety of members and includes value-added services. Members of the clearinghouse can include trading members, members that help the trading members ship their products, and banking members. The clearinghouse facilitates business among the trading members by providing a single point of contact for all transactions. The clearinghouse can be specific to an industry, such as the chemical industry. Multiple industry specific clearinghouses may form a network clearinghouses to effectively create one larger and more general business-to-business electronic commerce community.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying quantity related information determined for a plurality of time periods are described. According to one method, a trader may define one or more time periods for which a trading application may determine traded quantities, traded buys, traded sells, or other quantity related information at a plurality of price levels during the defined time periods. The trading application may then graphically display the quantities for each time period in relation to the static axis of prices. The method further includes periodically updating the displayed traded quantity to reflect the quantity during the defined time period, where the quantity is updated based on subsequent market updates that are received from the exchange for the tradable object.

Abstract: A method of determining a measure of residual income in relation to a company or investment, comprises first determining the forecast earnings or cash flow stream (E) of the company or investment for at least one time period (t) in the future, and deducting from this a charge (CC) for the mean cost of capital employed. The charge (CC) for the cost of capital employed is based not upon balance-sheet values, but rather upon a value of enterprise value (EV). The value of enterprise value (EV) is determined by adding the value of debt (VOD) and adjustments (ADJ), if any, to the current market capitalization (MC) of the company or investment. A measure (EV+) of residual income (RI) is thereby obtained as EV+=E?CC. A warranted enterprise value can be obtained by summing the present values of the residual income for a plurality of future years, with the present value of the difference between the terminal value and the present enterprise value, and the present enterprise value itself.

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.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that allow for automated documentation of all advice interactions between broker representatives on one end and clients, or prospective clients, on the other. This is accomplished by providing a computer system for storing appropriate data for each advice interaction with a client. The advice interaction data can be used to assess compliance with existing regulations, as well as for analytical and training purposes.

Abstract: Trading processes are operative to route orders from order rooms to market processes, which process the orders according to respective market methodologies. The order routing strategy can be embodied in a decision table having rules with conditions and actions to be taken when the conditions are true. Accordingly, order rooms can readily configure and reconfigure trading processes.

Abstract: A withdrawal of assets is initiated from a first account at a first financial institution. A deposit of the assets withdrawn from the first account is initiated to a second account at a second financial institution. The first account and the second account have a common account holder. The withdrawal and deposit of assets may be initiated after analyzing multiple accounts of the account holder and determining whether an adjustment of funds among the multiple accounts would benefit the account holder. A debit instruction is used to initiate the withdrawal of assets and a credit instruction is used to initiate the deposit of the withdrawn assets. The withdrawal and deposit of assets can be implemented using one or more payment networks, debit networks, or a wire transfer between the two financial institutions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of populating row and column cells of an electronic financial statement document containing with formulas and data, and related apparatus. A formula for a cell in a financial statement is generated from a row definition for the row and a column definition for the column of the cell, where the row definition defines a term of the statement and the column definition specifies a period of time. The resulting statement is displayed to a user, and new formula expressions can be generated to reflect changes in the statement. The statement can have three kinds of columns, namely base columns, subtotal columns, and grand total columns. Data in columns of an input database corresponds to a database period of time, and the base columns in the statement have statement period unit. For each base column of the statement, a correspondence to more than one column of the input database can be computed dynamically.

Abstract: The object is to provide a data output control apparatus which allows detailed information on a network to be readily obtained, which is advantageous with respect to cost, and which is suitable for specifically notifying the user of the service charge. A data output control terminal 300 is communicatively connected via the Internet 400 to a portable terminal 100 carried by a user, printing apparatuses PR1 to PRn provided at various locations, and WWW servers DS1 to DSm. The data output control terminal 300 obtains from a WWW server DS data associated with a data print request from the portable terminal 100, selects one of the plurality of printing apparatuses PR, and outputs the obtained data to the selected printing apparatus. Billing is executed in accordance with the result of use by the portable terminal 100 of the print service provided by the data output control terminal 300. The billing is executed by summing the service charge and the call charge of the portable terminal 100.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a bond is issued to an investor in exchange for value. The bond may be, for example, a tax-free municipal bond associated with (i) a spread to a predetermined index, (ii) a nominal maturity date, (iii) an initial mandatory tender date prior to the nominal maturity date, and/or (iv) an option for the investor to extend the initial mandatory tender date during an initial decision period. According to some embodiments an indication is received, during the initial decision period, indicating that the investor will extend the initial mandatory tender date. It may then be arranged for the initial mandatory tender date to be extended such that the bond will be associated with a subsequent option for the investor to extend an extended tender date during a subsequent decision period.

Abstract: An anonymous trading system comprises a network of broker nodes, each of which have an equal status and can match orders, initiate deals and distribute prices. Trading agents are connected to some or all of the broker nodes. The network is arranged to conform to a series of rules and in a preferred embodiment the brokers are arranged as a clique tree.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a deposit accepting apparatus (44) which is capable of accepting and authenticating instruments, as well as accepting envelopes deposited into the machine by a user. A transport section (46) is operative to engage and transport deposited items selectively from an inlet (48) to an outlet (50). A deposit holding module (90) includes compartments (98, 106) which are operative to hold different types of deposits. The machine operates to selectively move a compartment into communication with the outlet based on the particular type of item being deposited. The depository apparatus is further operative to acquire image and magnetic profile data from deposited instruments, to manipulate the image and profile data and to analyze and resolve characters in selected areas thereof. The data from deposited instruments is used for determining if a user is authorized to conduct certain requested transactions at the machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for notifying a guarantor associated with a guaranteed loan of events likely to affect their interest in the guaranteed loan. The disclosed method and apparatus provides loan data with information on at least one guaranteed loan wherein the loan data includes information on the terms of the loan. The method and apparatus then monitors changes in the loan data and determines when changes in the loan data corresponding to the at least one guaranteed loan indicates a likelihood that the terms of the loan may not be met. Based on the determination the method and apparatus provides a notification to the guarantor based on the determination that the loan terms may not be met.

Abstract: A withdrawal of assets is initiated from a first account at a first financial institution. A deposit of the assets withdrawn from the first account is initiated to a second account at a second financial institution. The first account and the second account have a common account holder. The withdrawal and deposit of assets may be initiated after analyzing multiple accounts of the account holder and determining whether an adjustment of funds among the multiple accounts would benefit the account holder. A debit instruction is used to initiate the withdrawal of assets and a credit instruction is used to initiate the deposit of the withdrawn assets. The withdrawal and deposit of assets can be implemented using one or more payment networks, debit networks, or a wire transfer between the two financial institutions.