Abstract: A method of contracting between two counterparties with a central counterparty for the exchange of payments based upon pairs of contracts. The payouts are based on the output of a pricing model in which the model output is calculated periodically, and the payments are exchanged periodically through transfers by the central counterparty. The period of calculation and payment occurs each business day. The model is driven by (i) an index indicating the price of a commodity; (ii) the volatility of the index; (iii) a nominal strike price; (iv) time to expiration; and (v) risk free interest rate, and (vi) other variables.

Abstract: An agency payment system for transactions covered by a virtual market control entity between participants. The system determines all payments required to be made by each virtual market control entity participant on a given day. It nets all of each of the participant's required payments to be made with the payments received by the virtual market control entity on the previous day due to each participant to obtain a net cash movement, either from the virtual market control entity to the participant's account or from the participant's account to the virtual market control entity. It transfers between the participant's account and the virtual market control entity's account and each participant's account the net cash movements to the virtual market control entity's account. It then transfers between the virtual market control entity's account and each participant's account the net cash movements to the participant's account.

Abstract: A paired basis swap risk and credit mitigation system and collateral minimization system. In swaps used to hedge forward contracts a system authority interposes itself and forms paired basis swaps with each of the paired swap participants and itself together with a Swaption to allow it to maintain a level book in the event of a default by any counterparty. In the event of a default the system authority has the ability to either terminate a swap and pay the non-defaulting counterparty an agreed upon termination payment, terminate the non-defaulting counterparty's swap and exercise the swaption to substitute a correlated swap with appropriate correlated termination payment; or substitute a new counterparty with an identical swap as the paired swap participant. Paired basis swap control through delivery can be enabled to continue the risk and credit mitigation benefits of the system.