Abstract: Systems and methods of facilitating trades of instruments are provided. A master node and a plurality of intermediate nodes store counterparty credit matrices. Trades are executed based on the information stored in these matrices. The systems and methods allow selection of trading options that not only accept or reject a trade, but also can indicate a credit status to be assigned to a counterparty to the trade.

Abstract: A bond matching system receives positions from dealers identifying bonds to be matched and including the price value per basis point (PVPB) of the bonds and an indication of a percentage deviation from PVBP that the dealer is willing to accept in a matching bond. A matching engine performs a matching optimization during a run to match as many positions as possible and then calculates a series of hedge trades for each dealer to reduce the curve risk generated by matching with bonds having different maturity dates. The hedge trades are executed in a liquid external market such as a futures exchange.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that preserve many of the advantages of traditional workups, including the ability to create a single deal extended in time, while avoiding aspects of prior art workup protocols that can be disadvantageous in particular trading environments and, particularly, avoiding the trading delays sometimes created by providing certain traders with exclusive trading privileges in highly-liquid, fast-moving trading environments. In a preferred embodiment, the present system comprises a distributed computer processing system programmed to provide a structured trading protocol that enhances trading efficiency and fairly distributes market opportunity to system users. More specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the present system is adapted to provide a plurality of workup phases each of which is designated a “public” phase and during which all trading is conducted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Abstract: A system and interface for trading financial instruments. The system consists of an intermediary computer system that is operable to communicate with one or more trader terminals utilizing either a private line, a network or the Internet. The intermediary computer system is comprised of one or more processors and storage media. The intermediary computer system communicates with trader terminals and displays to the trader terminals a listing of financial instruments, and information related to such financial instruments, that are available for trading. The intermediary computer system periodically updates the option adjusted price of financial instruments as to provide the traders with a time period in which the price will remain stable and during which time the traders can confidently execute orders based on the then available price. A timer, which is constantly visible to traders using the electronic trading system, displays the amount of time remaining until the displayed adjusted prices will be updated.

Abstract: An electronic trading system and method is disclosed for matching orders for various asset classes including futures contracts and the subsequent settlement and clearance of such contracts. The electronic trading system is configured to be connected to one or more electronic exchanges and is also configured to interface with the existing infrastructure of the front office software of a trading firm, broker or dealer to provide the best fill for traders by enabling electronic trades to be executed both on the exchange and over the counter. In one embodiment of the invention, a local order book is established thereby establishing an independent pool of liquidity of the asset class of interest.

Abstract: An electronic trading system and method are described in which credit risk associated with a transaction is captured as a price adjustment on a trade-by-trade basis. In one preferred embodiment, a “request for quote” (RFQ) trading model is presented in which each dealer receiving an RFQ determines a base price as well as an additional credit risk adjustment amount by which the base price should be modified to account for credit risk. In other preferred embodiments, an exchange trading model is presented in which traders submit buy and sell orders whose prices are appropriately adjusted for presentation to each potential counterparty to account for credit risk associated with potential transactions. System designs are also presented to address the technical challenge of permitting each trading participant to apply its own credit risk algorithms and methodologies while avoiding their disclosure to other trading participants.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to brokerage systems and methods, and more particularly, to a multi-tiered trading system and corresponding methods which allow multiple customers and multiple dealers to transact on a single platform while maintaining the distinction of an inter-dealer system and a dealer-customer relationship.

Abstract: A data processing system for implementing transaction management of auction-based trading is disclosed. The disclosed data processing system provides a structured trading protocol implemented through a sequence of trading paradigms. The system employs a distributed computer processing network linking together a matching engine and a plurality of workstations. The protocol and its programmed controlling logic enhances trading efficiency, rewards market makers, and fairly distributes market opportunity to system users. In some preferred embodiments, the structured trading protocol permits traders to enter hidden bids or offers during a clearing period that may be converted to transactable bids and offers when the clearing period terminates. In addition, in some preferred embodiments, the structured protocol permits traders to enter orders that specify an initial price and a better, hidden price.

Abstract: A plurality of user interfaces for facilitating efficient order management and post-trade processing in an electronic trading system are disclosed. A first user interface comprises a plurality of client buttons and a broker button. Selection of a client button shifts the user interface to a client-perspective mode in which all actions and views are from the selected client's point of view. Selection of the broker button shifts the user interface to a client-neutral mode in which the broker may enter orders in the market without specifying any particular client. An analogous user interface for use by a trader is also described. A second user interface, referred to as a blotter, is also provided that comprises four distinct views for displaying “pending,” “completed,” “all,” and “annulled” trades. Preferred embodiments for utilizing the disclosed user interfaces to process different classes of pending trades are also described.

Abstract: An electronic trading system and associated methods that provide for anonymous pricing data while ensuring the integrity of the system by preventing it from being used for price discovery information only. Methods are included to police the dealers requesting price information and clear rules are implemented to reward the dealer offering the best price. Dealers request price information by submitting an open (not anonymous) request to a broker for a price on an amount of a security or financial instrument, referred to herein as a “Price-For-Call,” which results in an anonymous RFQ being sent to a group of other dealers. If more than one dealer in the group responds with a price, only the best price (bid or offer or both) is returned to the requesting dealer and only the dealer offering the best price is rewarded with knowledge of the price information by virtue of the fact that his price traded.

Abstract: An electronic trading system and associated methods that provide for anonymous pricing data while ensuring the integrity of the system by preventing it from being used for price discovery information only. Methods are included to police the dealers requesting price information and clear rules are implemented to reward the dealer offering the best price. Dealers request price information by submitting an open (not anonymous) request to a broker for a price on an amount of a security or financial instrument, referred to herein as a “Price-For-Call,” which results in an anonymous RFQ being sent to a group of other dealers. If more than one dealer in the group responds with a price, only the best price (bid or offer or both) is returned to the requesting dealer and only the dealer offering the best price is rewarded with knowledge of the price information by virtue of the fact that his price traded.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to brokerage systems and methods, and more particularly, to a multi-tiered trading system and corresponding methods which allow multiple customers and multiple dealers to transact on a single platform while maintaining the distinction of an inter-dealer system and a dealer-customer relationship.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to brokerage systems and methods, and more particularly, to a multi-tiered trading system and corresponding methods which allow multiple customers and multiple dealers to transact on a single platform while maintaining the distinction of an inter-dealer system and a dealer-customer relationship.

Abstract: A plurality of user interfaces for facilitating efficient order management and post-trade processing in an electronic trading system are disclosed. A first user interface comprises a plurality of client buttons and a broker button. Selection of a client button shifts the user interface to a client-perspective mode in which all actions and views are from the selected client's point of view. Selection of the broker button shifts the user interface to a client-neutral mode in which the broker may enter orders in the market without specifying any particular client. An analogous user interface for use by a trader is also described. A second user interface, referred to as a blotter, is also provided that comprises four distinct views for displaying “pending,” “completed,” “all,” and “annulled” trades. Preferred embodiments for utilizing the disclosed user interfaces to process different classes of pending trades are also described.

Abstract: A multi-protocol trading system in which traders preferring different trading protocols may coexist within the same system, and access the same liquidity pool, while maintaining their trading rule preferences. The system supports two protocol preferences: a workup preference and a FIFO preference, and includes a single integrated order book that stores orders received from both workup and FIFO traders. Received orders are matched against orders in the order book in accordance with a FIFO and/or workup protocol, as a function of preferences selected by the traders and/or the system operator. Alternatively, the system includes a pair of order books, a workup order book and a FIFO order book. Customers submit linked orders having a workup leg and a FIFO leg which may be matched against the workup and/or FIFO order books, as a function of preferences selected by the traders and/or the system operator.

Abstract: An electronic trading system and associated methods that provide for anonymous pricing data while ensuring the integrity of the system by preventing it from being used for price discovery information only. Methods are included to police the dealers requesting price information and clear rules are implemented to reward the dealer offering the best price. Dealers request price information by submitting an open (not anonymous) request to a broker for a price on an amount of a security or financial instrument, referred to herein as a “Price-For-Call,” which results in an anonymous RFQ being sent to a group of other dealers. If more than one dealer in the group responds with a price, only the best price (bid or offer or both) is returned to the requesting dealer and only the dealer offering the best price is rewarded with knowledge of the price information by virtue of the fact that his price traded.

Abstract: A data processing system that records detailed market information for one or more financial markets to facilitate the audit of executed trades for time, quantity, and price as being reasonable. The system receives and records data from financial markets, including the date and time trades are executed and the prices at which the financial instruments traded. The system provides users the ability to compare a particular transaction for a financial instrument to transaction data for the same and/or related financial instruments at around the same time, to determine whether the price paid for the financial instrument is reasonable for the time the trade was executed. A trade confirmation service is also provided to permit traders to verify the parameters of executed transactions.

Abstract: A data processing system that records detailed market information for one or more financial markets to facilitate the audit of executed trades for time, quantity, and price as being reasonable. The system receives and records data from financial markets, including the date and time trades are executed and the prices at which the financial instruments traded. The system provides users the ability to compare a particular transaction for a financial instrument to transaction data for the same and/or related financial instruments at around the same time, to determine whether the price paid for the financial instrument is reasonable for the time the trade was executed. A trade confirmation service is also provided to permit traders to verify the parameters of executed transactions.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that preserve many of the advantages of traditional workups, including the ability to create a single deal extended in time, while avoiding aspects of prior art workup protocols that can be disadvantageous in particular trading environments and, particularly, avoiding the trading delays sometimes created by providing certain traders with exclusive trading privileges in highly-liquid, fast-moving trading environments. In a preferred embodiment, the present system comprises a distributed computer processing system programmed to provide a structured trading protocol that enhances trading efficiency and fairly distributes market opportunity to system users. More specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the present system is adapted to provide a plurality of workup phases each of which is designated a “public” phase and during which all trading is conducted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Abstract: In an electronic trading system, a method for facilitating block trading of financial instruments includes establishing a set of tiered block trading ranges, each tiered block trading range having a lower limit defining a minimum order size for filling block trades within the respective tiered block trading range, receiving a block order for a financial instrument, the block order having a block size that falls within a first tiered block trading range, and executing the block order in accordance with the minimum order size defined by the lower limit associated with the first tiered block trading range. The electronic trading system is adapted to identify executed trades with matching parties and financial instruments, combine each set of matching trades into a single trading order, reverse out the individual matching trades, execute the single trading orders, and transmit data corresponding to the executed trades to the transacting parties or a clearing entity.