Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an electronic trading interface and method for displaying trading data are provided. Reported trade prices are received. The largest volume for a trading price is determined. The largest volume for a trading price is normalized to establish a highest volume number. In one embodiment, the highest volume number is established by dividing the largest volume for a trading price by an adjusted percentage of itself. The remaining volumes for trading prices are normalized by the same method used to establish the highest volume number. The normalized volumes for trading prices are displayed. Thus, a trader is able to read volume earlier and clearer, thus providing an economic opportunity outside the singularity of the present. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interprete or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a cost-based financial product is provided. The cost-based financial product is created at a front end that differentiates at the access level, thereby providing two distinct products—one evolving from direct arbitrage; the other an indigenous copy—that are essentially the same that can flow separately into different service entities. A fixed yield or amount of supply of a first component is divided into a variable yield of a second component that represents the cost basis relationship sought, thereby creating a partial supply devisor quotient scale—a new scale of cost unit change that becomes the new price array on the front end. A front-end application ladder can be created by substituting a price per divisor supply (whether shares of stock, bushels of grain, etc.) quotient scale for the matrix price array of the cost component to accept the expanding or contracting value of the gross changes of the cost product value.

Abstract: An improved form of commodities contract that provides for a better economic basis than conventional contracts due to a leveraged design focus. Instead of focusing primarily on price, contracts according to the present invention emphasize the supply and usage of the underlying referenced commodity or product, creating a mechanism by which entities having an active interest in the underlying referenced commodity can take advantage of structured leverage, while also being beneficial to both the buyer and seller.

Abstract: A method of administering a composite commodity financial product involves the identification of a portfolio of component financial products. A number of component financial products are selected from the portfolio of component financial products, and a composite commodity financial product comprising the selected financial products is formed, with the product having a fixed termination date. A baseline figure or value for the composite commodity financial product is set, and derivative products based upon the product are traded during a predetermined period of time until the fixed termination date. At the end of the predetermined period of time, the baseline value is redesignated based upon the change in value of the selected financial products.

Abstract: A system for controlling and managing a continuous sequence of data by conducting studies on user-defined segments of the data, and displaying the study results in a concentrated summary form in vertical pipes on a single display screen. The system includes a data stream source, an interface between the data stream source and a personal computer or other stand-alone device, and means for constructing a database for the continuously developing data and displaying the data in a horizontal display, software and hardware to enable a user to conduct studies on the data so configured. The user designates a specific segment of displayed data, a specific study to be performed on that segment, and the study parameters, a color for each study result, and the position and color of a vertical summary pipe on the display screen. The study is performed and displayed in a concentrated summary form in the vertical pipe.