Abstract: An automated system for routing orders in an exchange configured for trading securities or derivatives is disclosed. The system includes an electronic trade engine operative to receive an order from an originating firm, the order including a designation specifying a preference for a particular market maker for a security or derivative at the exchange. Upon determining that the order cannot trade at the exchange, the electronic trade engine, via an order handling system, is operative to route the order to a second exchange with a second designation that is one of: identical to the designation of the received order or modified to a different designation according to predetermined instructions.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a participation entitlement for orders for the purchase or sale of securities or derivatives in an exchange configured for trading securities or derivatives is provided. One method includes determining a first participation entitlement based on a presence of a first-in-time public customer order at an executable price and determining a second participation entitlement in an absence of a public customer order on the electronic book. The system includes an electronic trade engine with electronic book configured for receiving orders from market makers on and away from the trading floor. The system also includes executable instructions for determining participation entitlements according to the method noted above.

Abstract: A method of providing an automated auction for internalization for the purchase or sale of securities or derivatives in an exchange is disclosed. The method may include receiving an order at an electronic trade engine, disseminating a request for price message to at least one user in response to receiving the order, receiving a one-sided response message representative of a participant-type in response to the request for price message, selecting an allocation algorithm from a plurality of allocation algorithms, initiating the selected allocation algorithm and allocating the order according to the participant-type upon termination of the selected auction. The system may include an electronic trading engine configured to disseminate an auction message in response to an order, a database of allocation algorithms, and a trade processor for initiating an auction according the one of the allocation algorithms and terminating the auction upon defined early termination events.

Abstract: An automated system for matching orders from a virtual trading crowd in an exchange configured for trading securities or derivatives is disclosed including an electronic trade engine operative to receive an order or a quote for a security or derivative at the exchange, the trade engine further operative to disseminate a request for a price message to a plurality of market makers quoting a class in response to receiving the order or the quote, an electronic book in communication with the electronic trade engine, the electronic book operative to store at least one order or quote received by the electronic trade engine, a database including an allocation algorithm, the database in communication with the electronic trade engine, and a trade processor in communication with the database, the trade processor operative to analyze and execute orders or quotes according to the allocation algorithm selected from the database.

Abstract: A system and method of allocating orders in an exchange configured for trading by a combination of electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms is provided. One method includes permitting multiple quotes to be disseminated to the market, but limiting market making to only those entities having a physical presence on the floor of the exchange. Methods of enhancing the hybrid electronic and open-outcry exchange also include automatically eliminating crossed quotes and locked quotes while permitting certain orders to trade against locked quotes.

Abstract: A method of providing an automated auction for internalization for the purchase or sale of securities or derivatives in an exchange is disclosed. The method may include receiving an order at an electronic trade engine, disseminating a request for price message to at least one user in response to receiving the order, receiving a one-sided response message representative of a participant-type in response to the request for price message, selecting an allocation algorithm from a plurality of allocation algorithms, initiating the selected allocation algorithm and allocating the order according to the participant-type upon termination of the selected auction. The system may include an electronic trading engine configured to disseminate an auction message in response to an order, a database of allocation algorithms, and a trade processor for initiating an auction according the one of the allocation algorithms and terminating the auction upon defined early termination events.

Abstract: A method of providing orders to a virtual trading crowd in an exchange prior to automatically linking the order to an away market is disclosed. The method may include receiving a marketable order for a security or derivative at the exchange, wherein the exchange has a price that differs from a national best bid or offer price, routing the marketable order to a trade engine, disseminating a request for price message to all market makers quoting a class in response to receiving the marketable order, the request for price message including a price equal to the national best bid or offer price, receiving a response message at the electronic trade engine in response to the request for price message from at least one market maker, initiating a quote trigger, wherein the quote trigger occurs for a period of N seconds, and allocating the order according to an allocation algorithm, wherein an order size of each market maker is capped to prevent inflation of an allocated portion of the order.

Abstract: A system and method of allocating orders in an exchange configured for trading by a combination of electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms is provided. One method includes permitting multiple quotes to be disseminated to the market, and providing market making rights of varying degrees to entities having a physical presence on the floor of the exchange and entities remotely located away from the trading floor. The system includes a trade engine configured for receiving orders from market makers on and away from the trading floor. The system also includes executable instructions for allocating to designated primary market makers a portion of an incoming order remaining after first trading against public customer orders.

Abstract: A system and method of allocating orders in an exchange configured for trading by a combination of electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms is provided. One method includes permitting multiple quotes to be disseminated to the market, but limiting market making to only those entities having a physical presence on the floor of the exchange. Methods of enhancing the hybrid electronic and open-outcry exchange also include automatically eliminating crossed quotes and locked quotes while permitting certain orders to trade against locked quotes.

Abstract: A method of providing orders to a virtual trading crowd in an exchange prior to automatically linking the order to an away market includes receiving a marketable order at the exchange, wherein the exchange price differs from a national best bid or offer (NBBO) price, routing the order to a trade engine, disseminating a request for price message, the request for price message including a price equal to the NBBO price, receiving a response message, initiating a quote trigger, wherein the quote trigger occurs for a period of N seconds, allocating at least a portion of the order according to an allocation algorithm, wherein an order size of each market maker is capped to prevent inflation of an allocated portion of the order, and allocating any remaining portion of the order to at least one predetermined market maker guarantor for execution at the NBBO price.

Abstract: A system and method of allocating orders in an exchange configured for trading by a combination of electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms is provided. One method includes permitting multiple quotes to be disseminated to the market, and providing market making rights of varying degrees to entities having a physical presence on the floor of the exchange and entities remotely located away from the trading floor. The system includes a trade engine configured for receiving orders from market makers on and away from the trading floor. The system also includes executable instructions for allocating to designated primary market makers a portion of an incoming order remaining after first trading against public customer orders.

Abstract: A system and method of allocating orders in an exchange configured for trading by a combination of electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms is provided. One method includes permitting multiple quotes to be disseminated to the market, but limiting market making to only those entities having a physical presence on the floor of the exchange. Methods of enhancing the hybrid electronic and open-outcry exchange also include automatically eliminating crossed quotes and locked quotes while permitting certain orders to trade against locked quotes.