Abstract: A method for trading financial instruments includes listing, by an electronic financial exchange, financial instruments that specify which version of a serialized index the financial instrument tracks; receiving, by the electronic financial exchange, an electronic indication to buy or sell the financial instrument; executing, by the electronic financial exchange, a trade involving the financial instrument; and settling the financial instrument according to the version of the serialized index specified by the financial instrument.

Abstract: A method for trading financial instruments includes listing, by an electronic financial exchange, financial instruments that specify which version of a serialized index the financial instrument tracks; receiving, by the electronic financial exchange, an electronic indication to buy or sell the financial instrument; executing, by the electronic financial exchange, a trade involving the financial instrument; and settling the financial instrument according to the version of the serialized index specified by the financial instrument.

Abstract: A method for trading financial instruments includes listing, by an electronic financial exchange, financial instruments that specify which version of a serialized index the financial instrument tracks; receiving, by the electronic financial exchange, an electronic indication to buy or sell the financial instrument; executing, by the electronic financial exchange, a trade involving the financial instrument; and settling the financial instrument according to the version of the serialized index specified by the financial instrument.

Abstract: A trading system is disclosed which allows an exchange to protect market data from electronic reproduction by traders but allows the traders to use the market data (such as the last traded price, current resting bids and offers) to assist in making the trades. The system includes an exchange server having a database having market data relating to commodities traded over the exchange. A group of trader computers each having a display are coupled to the exchange server. The trader computers have a trader interface run on the computer allowing each trader to place and accept orders for commodities traded over the exchange. The trader interface is capable of receiving market data from the exchange server. An external data source such as an Excel spreadsheet is stored on the trader computer having at least one data field. A trader module is coupled to the trader interface and external data source.