Anonymous block trade matching system
Disclosed is an anonymous block trade matching system which allows users that wish to cross large blocks of stock to submit orders, or indications of interest, with the option of utilizing market peg benchmarks or future price cross benchmarks. Orders submitted may be subject to minimum thresholds, including a threshold requiring that the order represent ‘X’ % of average daily volume. After submission of a firm order in the system, an alert is generated to provide the order data to other users with potential to cross the order. Visibility of order data by other users may be restricted based upon a data interaction group to which the ordering user or the other user belongs. The system may provide users viewing order data with a capability of negotiating with the submitting user via a restricted two-way messaging interface. Flat rate and rebate/fee cost models may be utilized as a means for charging a user for access to the system.
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This application includes material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates in general to the field of computer systems, and in particular to a novel computer system for facilitating block trade securities transactions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBlock trading, also referred to as “crossing,” is a well-known type of securities transaction wherein trades are privately negotiated apart from the public auction market. Block trading allows sell side traders and buy-side traders to reduce transaction costs, such as ticket, execution and settlement costs. While block trading is most often performed through manual negotiation, several matching engines and alternative trading systems have been known in the prior art for matching securities buyers with sellers and for matching securities sellers with pools of liquidity.
Some such matching engines, previously known as Instinet, VT and CBX (the “Instinet Systems”), provided by Instinet, allow users to submit anonymous orders. The systems distribute order alerts to other users of the system who may have interest in performing a transaction with the user whose order triggered the order alerts. When order alerts are distributed and negotiated upon between parties, the parties are anonymous to each other. In this respect, order alerts allow parties to seek a natural counterpart to trade with while controlling information leakage and protecting trading strategy.
Users of such systems control what order information the market sees, showing externally only a minimum execution size and price, while negotiating actual size and price with natural counterparties.
However the Instinet Systems and other matching engines which provide for block trading are limited in several respects. While they have provided a means for continuous off-exchange crossing, they have not provided a sufficient capability to submit orders using market peg benchmarks or future price cross benchmarks via a web based terminal application. While such systems have provided a means for transmitting alerts to subscribers to advise them of potential trading opportunities, no means has existed for permitting the user to control which users or types of users will receive such alerts. Additionally, systems that provide for block trading have typically provided only limited means for negotiation between the parties, and such negotiations were only available to customers utilizing proprietary trading platforms on a proprietary data network.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved anonymous block trade matching system.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system which enables participants to cross large blocks of international or national stocks anonymously to cut ticket, execution and settlement costs while also reducing market impact and spread costs.
In preferred embodiments, the invention provides an anonymous block trade matching system which allows users that wish to cross large blocks of stock to submit orders, or indications of interest, with the option of utilizing market peg benchmarks or future price cross benchmarks. Orders submitted may be subject to minimum size thresholds. After submission of a firm order in the system, an alert is generated to provide the order data to other users with potential to cross the order. Visibility of order data by other users may be restricted based upon a data interaction group to which the ordering user or the other user belongs. The system may provide users viewing order data with a capability of negotiating with the submitting user via a restricted two-way messaging interface. Flat rate and rebate/fee cost models may be utilized as a means for charging a user for access to the system.
The invention therefore provides a mutually beneficial trading solution where both trade parties can benefit from trading directly with a natural counterpart.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The present invention is described below with reference to block diagrams and operational illustrations of methods and devices to make and use a block trade matching system in accordance with the invention. It is understood that each block of the block diagrams or operational illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams or operational illustrations, may be implemented by means of analog or digital hardware and computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, ASIC, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, implements the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams or operational block or blocks. In some alternate implementations, the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
A block matching engine 12 utilizes algorithms, discussed further below, to match orders. A core database 14 is provided for storing historical information regarding trades and tracking the trading history of clients. In one embodiment the core database is the generator of alerts. However, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, alerts may be generated by any server in the system without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Clients may access the trade-matching system 10 to place orders and/or receive alerts via an interface with an inhouse trading application 24 that communicates with an inhouse trading platform 16, via an interface with an external trading system 18 that communicates with inhouse trading platform 16, or via a web client 20 that connects via he internet with a web infrastructure server 22.
The external trading system 18 may communicate with the trade-matching system 10 using a suitable standard or proprietary order protocol. One example of a suitable protocol is the Financial Information eXchange (FIX) protocol published by FIX Protocol maintained by FIX Protocol Ltd of London, U.K. The FIX protocol is a well-known electronic communications protocol for international real-time exchange of information related to the securities transactions and markets. FIX messages are formed from a number of fields, each field is a tag value pairing that is separated from the next field by a delimiter SOH. The TAG is a string representation of an integer that indicates the meaning of the field. The value is an array of bytes that hold a specific meaning for the particular TAG. For example, “TAG 48” is securityID and is a string that identifies the security, “TAG 22” is IDSource and is an integer that indicates the identifier class being used. In the main the value is readable text. However, fields can be encrypted and thus the value can be pure binary and include the normal delimiter SOH—binary fields are always preceded by a length field. The FIX protocol defines meanings for most TAGs and a range of TAGs is reserved for private use between consenting parties. The FIX protocol also defines sets of fields that make up a particular message. Within the set of fields some are mandatory under the protocol and others are optional.
The web infrastructure server 22 provides a secure interface to web clients accessing the system over the internet, and sets user level permissions. The web client 20 runs an internet-delivered web application that allows users to view trading opportunities in the form of “alerts,” which are discussed in further detail below. The web application may additionally provide the user with an ability to set up filters to prevent their receipt of an overwhelming number of alerts for market sectors in which such user is not interested. The web application may also include instant messaging functionality for allowing clients to communicate with each other using permitted phrases in furtherance of negotiating a trade, as is discussed in further detail below. The Web application may further incorporate an advanced search screen that allows users to input criteria of their choice to display orders that are placed with the system. The web application in one embodiment establishes a real time data feed from core database so that changes made in core database intraday will be reflected instantly in the web front end. The presentation of the data by the web application may be accomplished by configuring it to display four types of windows: a stock list window displaying an order-by-order list of live, traded, cancelled and expired orders on the system; a market depth window showing consolidated data by price for live, traded, cancelled and expired orders, an alert window displaying IOI's relating to orders placed in the system, and a two-way message window used for negotiating with participants on existing orders, expired/cancelled orders and traded orders.
The order screen of
If the user specifies a primary peg benchmark (e.g., ‘Mid’, ‘Bid’ or ‘Ask) in the “Display Price” field of
If the user specifies a primary future cross price benchmark value, e.g. ‘VWAP’, ‘Open’ or ‘Close’, in the “Display Price” field of
The system may be configured to require a user entering an order to adhere to one or more minimum thresholds, on a per-stock basis, in order to participate in the block matching functions provided by the system. Such thresholds include a “% ADV” threshold and a Share Quantity threshold. To meet the % ADV threshold, an order must represent ‘X’ % of Average Daily Volume. To meet the Share Quantity threshold, an order must be ‘X’ number of shares. If an order not meeting a required threshold is entered in the system, it may be rejected by the system. Thresholds for a particular stock ordered may be set at any value, but will generally be based on liquidity of the stock and price level of the stock ordered.
The system may further be configured to provide users with the facility to include their order data on block match alerts, or indications of interest (IOI's), maximizing the potential to find a suitable party to cross with. The system in various embodiments segregates users into four distinct data interaction groups, and makes order data visible to users in accordance with the group to which they belong. In one embodiment, the four groupings are: Buy Side, Sell Side, Market Maker and Dark Provider. The constituency of these groups, and the extent to which they are able to view orders in the system, is summarized in the table below:
If the order is not designated as hidden and is not placed by a dark provider, the process proceeds to generate an alert at step 322. The content of such alert is discussed below with reference to
Based upon a user's trade history data stored in the core database 14 (
As shown in
Negotiation on historic order data, as well as live orders, is provided via a two-way messaging system that is activated, e.g., via double-clicking on a particular order displayed in the stock list window or the alert window shown in
Users can use the two-way messaging interface of
Below is an exemplary list of the messages permitted from the negotiation window using soft buttons (e.g. Sorry) activated by the mouse or hot keys (e.g. W) activated by the keyboard:
The negotiation window of
When a negotiation has been agreed upon in terms of price or size, users may request a system-generated negotiation ID that can be attached to a firm order to lock the order from trading with anyone other than their negotiation partner. This ID may be system generated by the web application and visible to both users. Both users submit an order with their agreed order parameters (size, price), adding the negotiation ID to their order in a negotiation text field. This effectively locks the order for the two participants and prevents the user's order from crossing with any party other than the one with which they have been negotiating. The completed order is cleared via external trade clearing (
In the search window of
The system may be configured to provide users with a mutually beneficial cost model for two parties that wish to cross large blocks of stock off-exchange. In this respect, the system may provide two cost model options for users—a flat rate cost model and a rebate/fee cost model.
The flat rate cost model option offers users who want a flat rate cost model with access to the system at a flat rate cost per trade, e.g., 2.5 bp per trade on DMA orders or orders placed with the system through a representative of the system proprietor. Orders that are placed with the system using one of several value-adding algorithms that automate the accessing of liquidity may be offered at another, higher flat rate, e.g., 3 or 4 bp.
The rebate/fee cost model option provides users with the ability to conduct a transaction where the buying supplier gets a net price of, e.g., 10 minus 2.5 bp and the seller gets a net price of, e.g., 10 minus 7.5 bp. To accommodate the rebate/fee model is configured to automatically calculate client trades as a fee or rebate on a per-trade basis based on which client was the provider or taker of liquidity. Alternatively the system can be configured to allow all trades to be processed under a flat rate model and then at the end of the day or month manually override each rate with the new rate after all rebates/fees have been taken into account.
Thus, the system may be configured to offer participants that post directly to it the ability to ‘take liquidity’ at a flat rate, e.g. 7.5 bp, while ‘liquidity providers’ benefit from a rebate, e.g. 2.5 b, on orders. The system may be further configured such that participants that trade roughly an equal proportion of posting and taking liquidity can access the system at a flat rate, such as the mid point of the gross commission, for direct posting and taking liquidity, e.g. 2.5 bp, on all trades.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An anonymous block trade matching system, comprising:
- at least one server configured to receive via a network order data for an order of a security, said order data comprising a user's specification of a price benchmark for said order, said price benchmark being selected from the group consisting of: a peg value with a hard limit, a peg value without a hard limit, or a future cross price;
- a core database having stored therein said order data, said order data including said price benchmark; and,
- an alert generator configured to use said order data to transmit to at least one prospective trading party an alert anonymously describing said order.
2. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one server is further configured to receive said order data via a private network.
3. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one server is further configured to receive said order data via a publicly accessible network.
4. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one server comprises a first server for receiving said order data via a publicly accessible network and a second server for receiving other order data via a private network.
5. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a matching engine for finding an opposite side order meeting said benchmark value.
6. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said alert generator is further configured to generate said alert such that an alphabetic benchmark value, and not an actual price value, is displayed in said alert to said prospective trading party.
7. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said price benchmark comprises a peg value and said alphabetic benchmark value is selected from the group consisting of: MID, BID, or ASK, said benchmark value referencing a primary market for the price of said security.
8. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said price benchmark comprises a future cross price and said alphabetic benchmark value is selected from the group consisting of: VWAP, OPEN or CLOSE, said VWAP benchmark value referencing a price determined at the discretion of a proprietor of the system and said OPEN and CLOSE benchmark values referencing a primary market for the price of said security.
9. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system is further configured such that if an exchange on which said security is traded moves beyond said user's specified hard limit an order type associated with said order changes automatically from a price benchmark order type to a hard limit order type.
10. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the system is further configured such that said alert displays a hard limit price in numeric format after said change from a price benchmark order type to a hard limit order type.
11. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the system is further configured such that if, after said change in order type, the exchange moves below said user's specified hard limit said order type reverts automatically to said price benchmark order type.
12. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the system is further configured such that said alert again displays an alphabetic benchmark after said change from a hard limit order type to a price benchmark order type.
13. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the system is further configured such that after a primary exchange publishes an official price for the security ordered using a future cross benchmark, trade corrects are sent to both participants at the official cross price.
14. An anonymous block trade matching system, comprising:
- a server configured to receive order data for an order of a security;
- a core database having stored therein said order data; and,
- an alert generator configured to use said order data to transmit to a plurality of prospective parties an alert anonymously describing said order, said alert generator being configured to selectively send said alert to said plurality of prospective parties based upon an indication in said order data of which type of users are to receive said alert.
15. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said alert generator comprises a database.
16. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said indication in said order data of which type of users are to receive said alert comprises an indication that the alert is to be hidden from a group of users.
17. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said group of users comprises all users.
18. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said group of users comprises less than all users.
19. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said indication in said order data of which type of users are to receive said alert comprises an indication of whether sell-side users are to receive said alert.
20. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said alert generator transmits said alert to buy side users by default, and wherein said indication in said order data of which type of users are to receive said alert comprises an indication of whether sell-side users are to receive said alert.
21. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said indication in said order data of which type of users are to receive said alert comprises an indication of whether market maker users are to receive said alert.
22. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said alert generator is configured to prevent a dark provider from viewing said order data.
23. An anonymous block trade matching system, comprising:
- a server configured to receive order data for an order of a security;
- a core database having stored therein said order data; and,
- an alert generator configured to use said order data to transmit to a plurality of prospective parties an alert anonymously describing said order, said alert generator being configured to transmit said alert to a first subset of said plurality of prospective parties and subsequently to transmit said alert to a second subset of said plurality of prospective parties after the elapsing of a predetermined time period from said transmission of said alert to said first subset of said plurality of prospective parties.
24. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said predetermined time period is one minute.
25. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 23, wherein the system is further configured such that to be eligible to be included in said first subset a user must have utilized the system in the past to conduct a number of securities trades.
26. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said number of securities trades is one.
27. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 25, wherein said eligibility is conditioned upon said user having utilized the system within a predetermined past time period.
28. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said predetermined past time period is one week.
29. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said alert generator is configured to transmit said alert by the placement of a new order.
30. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said alert generator is configured to transmit said alert by the placement of a firm order.
31. An anonymous block trade matching system, comprising:
- a server configured to receive order data for an order of a security by a first user;
- a core database having stored therein said order data; an alert generator configured to use said order data to transmit to at least a second user an alert anonymously describing said order; and,
- a client configured to display to said second user a two-way messaging interface that provides for a negotiation conversation between said first user and said second user, said two-way messaging interface restricting communication from at least one of said first user and said second user to a finite set of phrases.
32. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said two-way messaging interface is configured to restrict communication from both said first user and said second user to said finite set of phrases.
33. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said two-way messaging interface is configured to translate a keystroke by said first user into a negotiating phrase and to transmit said negotiating phrase to said second user.
34. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 31, wherein said two-way messaging interface is configured to translate a soft button press or mouse click by said first user into a negotiating phrase and to transmit said negotiating phrase to said second user.
35. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 31, wherein the system is configured such that when a negotiation has been agreed upon between said first user and said second user using said two-way messaging interface, the system generates a negotiation ID that is attached to said order data and locks the order from trading with any party other than said first user and said second user.
36. An anonymous block trade matching system, comprising:
- a server configured to receive order data for an order of a security, said order data consisting of an indication that a net price improvement will be provided to a liquidity provider placing said order;
- a core database having stored therein said order data; and,
- a matching engine for finding an opposite side order matching said order of a security.
37. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 36, further comprising an alert generator configured to use said order data to transmit to at least one prospective trading party an alert anonymously describing said order.
38. An anonymous block trade matching system, comprising:
- a server configured to receive order data for a user's order of a security;
- a core database having stored therein said order data; and,
- a matching engine for finding an opposite side order matching said order of a security, said matching engine being configured to reject said user's order if said order does not adhere to a minimum size threshold assigned to said security.
39. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said minimum size threshold comprises liquidity of said security.
40. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said minimum size threshold comprises a price level of said security.
41. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said minimum size threshold comprises a share quantity of said security.
42. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 38, wherein said minimum size threshold comprises an average daily volume of shares of said security traded on an exchange.
43. The anonymous block trade matching system in accordance with claim 38, further comprising an alert generator configured to use said order data to transmit to at least one prospective trading party an alert anonymously describing said order.
Type: Application
Filed: May 1, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2008
Applicant:
Inventor: Anthony Mackay (Surrey)
Application Number: 11/799,609
International Classification: G06Q 40/00 (20060101);