Abstract: A method for estimating an expected volatility for financial instruments that are quoted in spread terms but which trade with an upfront and a fixed coupon may include a computer processor: (1) selecting a plurality of options, each option having a different option expiry; (2) for each option expiry, calculating a corresponding forward index level in a price term; (3) selecting a strike price for which an absolute difference between a receiver price and a payer price is smallest; (4) extracting and grouping a plurality of traded receivers having spread strike prices that are lower than the strike price, and payers having spread strike prices greater than the strike price; (5) calculating an expected strike price for each grouped option; (6) calculating an option notional for each of the plurality of options; (7) calculating a fixed expiry VTRAC-X volatility index; and (8) interpolating a fixed time-to-expiry VTRAC-X volatility index.

Abstract: A system to selectively answer a telephone is disclosed and includes a stationary unit connectable in line with a telephone line extending to the telephone. The stationary unit includes: a first antenna coupled to a first transmitter-receiver to communicate with a portable unit that includes a second antenna coupled to a second transmitter-receiver; a switching circuit to seize the telephone line after receiving a signal received from a first activatable switch of the portable unit, from a second activatable switch of the portable unit, or any combination thereof; and an autodialer circuit to dial a pre-programmed telephone number in response to a signal received from the second activatable switch of the portable unit. The stationary unit receives verbal communications from the portable unit and transmits the verbal communications via the telephone line after the telephone line is seized.

Abstract: A system for selectively answering a telephone from a remote location is disclosed herein. The system basically includes both a stationary unit and a portable unit. The stationary unit, first of all, is connectable in line with a telephone line extending to a telephone. The stationary unit includes a ring detector circuit for activating the system upon detecting a ringing signal received over the telephone line, a first antenna with transmitter-receiver, a switching circuit for seizing the telephone line, and an enclosure. The portable unit, on the other hand, may be carried on-person. The portable unit includes a second antenna with transmitter-receiver for establishing electromagnetic communication with the first antenna, an activatable switch for selectively triggering seizure of the telephone line in response to any ringing signal that is detected, a microphone for transmitting verbal communications over the telephone line whenever the telephone line is seized, and a casing.