Abstract:
A computer network and method for electronically trading derivatives. The system includes networks and methods where a control or network managing station in the network acts as a facilitator for the market makers and subscribers to make a trade at an Exchange. In another embodiment the network managing station consummates the trade between a market maker and a subscriber by matching binding quotes and orders and clears the trade at an Exchange. The computer network for electronically trading derivative uses: (a) network managing station; (b) one or more market maker stations; (c) one or more subscriber stations; (d) one or more Exchanges. The network managing station connects market makers and subscribers for making real time indicative quotes, issuing requests for quotes, obtaining binding quotes and wherein the market maker and subscriber are in communication with an Exchange for sending binding quotes and orders to the Exchange for clearing and confirming transactions.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/244,311, filed Oct. 30, 2000, entitled “NETWORK AND METHOD FOR TRADING DERIVATIVES”, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is in the field of electronically trading derivatives. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electronic trading is revolutionizing the futures industry. For example, future contracts in Europe are 100% electronically traded. Trading of futures contracts in the United States will almost certainly be done electronically in the very near future. Five weeks after launch of the a/c/e electronic platform at the Chicago Board of Trade Exchange (CBOT) 25% of financial futures trades were made electronically. The rapid growth of electronic trading is further illustrated by the fact that the German-Swiss Exchange (EUREX) founded in 1990 has surpassed the CBOT as the leader in futures trading. 
     There are substantial limitations of current ‘mainframe’ electronic trading systems. Designed more than a decade ago, electronic futures trading platforms are based on rigid, outdated ‘mainframe’ architecture. All message traffic passes through centralized Exchange servers. Communication is ‘one-to-all’ and ‘all-to-one’, i.e. every price update triggers thousands of messages. Users are unable to flexibly query the market for indicative quotes for ‘wholesale’ orders or customized spread combinations. While ‘mainframe’ architecture works for futures trading with a single price point, it fails completely in markets that are ‘relational’, i.e. every price is linked to other—or hundreds of other—prices. This problem is illustrated by the relationship of E-futures, E-options and E-spreads. 
     Outright E-Futures have a single price point. As the futures price changes, traders cancel, modify and replace single orders. This is illustrated in Table I. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 30-Year Bond Futures Book 
               
               
                 Contract - December 2000 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BIDS 
                   
                 ASKS 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Quantity 
                 Price 
                 Price 
                 Quantity 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 350 
                 98.21 
                 98.22 
                 220 
               
               
                   
                 250 
                 98.20 
                 98.23 
                 150 
               
               
                   
                 300 
                 98.19 
                 98.25 
                 400 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Options involve puts and calls and combinations of puts and calls and/or futures, as well as straddles, strangles, butterflies, strips, etc. all of which result in thousands of price points being linked to each future. Thus, as the underlying futures price moves, thousands of price updates are needed. This is illustrated in Table II. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE II 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 30-Year Bond Options Book 
               
               
                 Contract - December 2000 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BIDS 
                 ASKS 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Instrument 
                 Strike 
                 Quantity 
                 Price 
                 Price 
                 Quantity 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Call 
                 9800 
                 200 
                 130 
                 136 
                 100 
               
               
                 Call 
                 9900 
                 150 
                 55 
                 63 
                 50 
               
               
                 Put 
                 9800 
                 50 
                 47 
                 52 
                 250 
               
               
                 Put 
                 9700 
                 175 
                 28 
                 31 
                 300 
               
               
                 Straddle 
                 9600-1000 
                 200 
                 55 
                 58 
                 150 
               
               
                 Call Spread 
                 9800-1000 
                 250 
                 25 
                 26 
                 50 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     There are few ‘real’ prices displayed for options and spreads on electronic screens because market makers cannot make tight markets across numerous price points. As the futures price moves, ‘stale’ options and spread prices remain exposed to the market. 
     E-Options and E-Spreads require a blend of indicative and binding quotes. On a trading floor a trader has only one voice but quotes across hundreds of options and spreads. A trader makes continuous indicative quotes issuing hand held sheets with a grid of theoretical values. At the moment of trade, the indicative quote is ‘refreshed’ and becomes binding. 
     Current electronic options and spread markets have significant disadvantages. In the United States, despite the rapid growth of electronic futures, there is no real volume in electronic options and spreads. These markets still trade on the floor. In Europe, where futures markets are 100% electronic, price discovery in options and spreads takes place manually in an informal “cash” phone market. The European ‘phone market’ is widely disliked by all participants except the “cash” brokers who charge commissions to both sides of a trade. European options screens do not show ‘real’ prices. End users complain of the lack of transparency (only the “cash” brokers know the real bids and offers) and the inability of end users to verify that orders have received ‘best execution’ treatment. Users and market makers also do not like the high cost of “cash” brokerage. Brokerage costs for market makers are passed on to users in the form of wider bid—ask spreads. Exchanges, regulators and end users are concerned by the counterparty risk inherent to the system. Finally, market integrity rests on the performance guarantees of unregulated, thinly capitalized “cash” brokers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,483 describes a computer-based system for determining a set of opening prices for options traded on an options exchange and for allocating public order imbalances at the opening of trade. This patent is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of the overall network (LD network); 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are flow diagrams of the interaction on the network of the market makers and a subscriber; 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic of a computer screen seen by a subscriber; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the subscriber&#39;s query selection screen; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a subscriber order ticket screen; 
         FIGS. 3D and 3E  show an order entry window according to one embodiment; 
         FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C illustrate the market maker control screens; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates an individual market maker&#39;s indicative quotes and the best LD indicative quote; and, 
         FIGS. 5B and 5C  illustrate embodiments of the market maker&#39;s binding quote ticket. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a computer network and method for electronically trading derivatives. The invention includes networks and methods where a control or network managing station in the network acts as a facilitator for the market makers and subscribers to make a trade at an Exchange. In another embodiment the network managing station consummates the trade between a market maker and a subscriber by matching binding quotes and orders and clears the trade at an Exchange. The computer network for electronically trading derivative comprises: (a) network managing station; (b) one or more market maker stations; (c) one or more subscriber stations; (d) one or more Exchanges. 
     The network managing station connects market makers and subscribers for making real time indicative quotes, issuing requests for quotes, obtaining binding quotes and wherein the market maker and subscriber are in communication with an Exchange for sending binding quotes and orders to the Exchange for clearing and confirming transactions. 
     The method and network of the present invention provides for continuous quotes on the user&#39;s desktop that are backed up by significant liquidity. Numerous markets can be quoted simultaneously and users can make custom inquiries. The best price is guaranteed because the executed order matches the best price in the Exchange. The method and apparatus described herein enables liquid and efficient electronic trading of exchange listed products, thereby reducing risks associated with alternative over the counter mechanisms. That is, the system provides both the flexibility inherent in over-the-counter (OTC) trading and the reduced risk of Exchange matching and/or clearing. The system is unexpectedly advantageous in that it integrates, in real-time, market makers&#39; indicative and binding quotes. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the network and interactions of market maker, subscriber, network manager and Exchanges. MM 1 , MM 2 , MM 3 , and MM 4  are market maker servers that provide indicative and binding quotes. Sub  1 , Sub  2 , Sub  3  and Sub  4  are subscriber stations through which subscribers query indicative quotes, request binding quotes, and send orders to Exchanges such as the CBOT, CME and Eurex. LD is a network managing station that provides a directory of participants receiving or providing quotes. The network manager in one embodiment facilitates trading between subscribers and market makers who submit binding quotes and orders to an Exchange for clearance. In another embodiment, the network manager (LD) or control station may match the binding quotes and orders and send them to an Exchange for clearance. Through this network, market makers, subscribers, Exchanges and the network managing station can electronically communicate with each other. Subscribers can directly and flexibly query market makers&#39; databases. The network minimizes traffic that passes through centralized servers and therefore has a high capacity. Messaging traffic of price updating is thereby reduced by limiting quote traffic to interested parties who query specific contracts and/or contract combinations. 
     A subscriber station (Sub  1 , Sub  2 , Sub  3  and Sub  4  of  FIG. 1 ) has hardware and software to query indicative quotes, request binding quotes, and send orders to Exchanges. In one embodiment, the subscriber station consists of a Windows-based PC running an application that allows users to login, select symbols, and receive quotes for those symbols. Other embodiments include hand held computing devices that run the applications. Alternatively, the hand-held device acts as a wireless data terminal that communicates with the PC running the applications. As one of ordinary skill can appreciate, further alternatives hardware and software arrangements include hand-held devices and PC workstations, wherein the software functionality is appropriately divided between the two devices. 
     In another embodiment, the subscriber station is a gateway application connecting a subscriber&#39;s internal network to the network also referred to as the (LD) network. In this case, the functions of the subscriber station are controlled by other applications running throughout the subscriber&#39;s internal network. These applications may be trading front-ends or trading programs that the subscriber wishes to use to access the LD network. In this case, the LD subscriber gateway provides a protocol for passing messages between the networks. These messages include querying indicative quotes, quote updates, requesting binding quotes, and routing orders. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of the Market Overview screen that displays indicative quotes for symbols and combinations of symbols as well as binding quotes in the Exchange order book. The CBT Bid/CBT Ask columns display the current best bid/ask price and quantity in the a/c/e electronic order book. The LD Bid/Ask columns display the best indicative bid/ask, size, and volatility from the market makers on the LD network. The screen of  FIG. 3A  displays real time price updates for symbols selected by the user via selection screen of  FIG. 3B . 
       FIG. 3B  is an example of the screen that allows the user to select symbols and combinations of symbols for which quotes will be requested. The selected symbols and the corresponding requests for indicative quotes provide an “indication of interest” or IOI to the market makers. Symbol Selection is performed as follows: highlight a symbol in the left column and use the button to move it to the view list, thereby making it an active symbol. Double-clicking a symbol also makes it active. Preferably, typing a value in the ‘Symbol List Filter’ box limits the content of the list—for example, typing ‘OZB V1’ displays the available thirty-year October options. 
     Selecting a spread is performed by highlighting a spread in the right column and then using the button to make it active. Double-clicking a spread also makes it active. The three drop-down boxes in the center filter the list of spreads by product, month, and Call or Put. The spreads can also be filtered by selecting the spread type from the drop-down over the right column. 
     Removing an item from the view list is done by double-clicking an item in the view list or highlighting the item and using the ‘remove’ button. Ordering the display is done with the ‘sort’ button, which causes the items in the view list to be sorted by symbol, expiration date, and strike. Individual symbols can be selected and moved up and down using ‘up’ and down. 
     Depending upon the hardware, software, and network conditions, the subscriber station may actively query market makers for updated quotes (every second, for instance, or when the underlying price moves). In other circumstances, the subscriber station receives quote updates in real-time (i.e. ‘pushed’ by the market makers). 
     In one embodiment, when a user wishes to enter an order against one of the indicative quotes, double clicking the symbol pulls up an order entry window as shown in  FIG. 3D  (or  FIG. 3E  in the case of a straddle). Pressing the “sell now” button simultaneously informs the appropriate market maker of the request for a binding quote and submits the corresponding order to the exchange. 
     In yet another embodiment, the invention provides for unilateral communication in accordance with CFTC rules between subscribers and market makers for the submission of binding quotes and orders as a result of the unilateral communication. For example, a subscriber may receive an indicative quote from a market maker and respond by sending a request for quote (RFQ) to an Exchange, alerting all market participants of the RFQ. Thus, the market maker receives an RFQ from a subscriber at the same time the RFQ is received by other market participants. The market maker may immediately enter a binding quote at the Exchange and the subscriber may immediately enter an order at the Exchange. 
     In a further embodiment, the process of entering an order and trading with the LD network is a two-step process. The user first enters an RFQ that is sent to the LD market makers as well as to the Exchange (e.g., a/c/e, which is the CBOT electronic trading platform). After market makers enter their quotes into a/c/e, the user enters an order to match against the best bid (or ask) in the a/c/e book. 
     Thus when a user wishes ta enter an order against one of the indicative quotes, the user preferably double-clicks the symbol (or by clicking on the bid or the ask price) in the display of  FIG. 3A  to activate a Request For Quote (RFQ) window as shown in  FIG. 3C . The quantity may be left blank, or a value may be specified. Clicking send button sends the RFQ simultaneously to the Exchanges, which effectively may result in sending the RFC to 30,000 terminals, and also sends the RFQ to the LD network to the LD market makers. The RFQ sent to the exchange preferably conforms to existing RFQ exchange formats and would typically include only the contract of interest. In contrast, the RFQ sent to the LD market makers preferably includes the contract of interest, the indicated price and the indicated quantity. Alternatively, the LD RFQ may also include additional parameters such as what side the requested quote is for (buy/sell). Upon sending the RFQ, the RFQ window of  FIG. 3C  is replaced with the Order Entry Screen of  FIG. 3D  (or  FIG. 3E  in the case of a straddle). 
     The order ticket shown in  FIG. 3D  allows the subscriber to change the quantity, price, and buy/sell. The subscriber can also select the appropriate account from a drop down list. After confirming the details, the order may be submitted. Preferably, the subscriber awaits an indication from the market maker that a binding quote has been submitted prior to submitting the order. This indication appears in the “CBT Bid” and/or “CBT Ask” fields of the Order Entry screen shown in  FIG. 3D  (or  FIG. 3E ). Such indication that a binding quote has been submitted is an advantageous feature of the system described herein. 
     Specifically, the market maker station preferably displays the quote entry screen of  FIG. 5B  in response to the receipt of an LD RFQ sent by the subscriber.  FIG. 5C  depicts an alternative quote entry screen. The quote entry screen, upon display, has been “loaded” or preprocessed to incorporate data from the market maker&#39;s indicative quote, including the price and depth (volume of contracts). In a farther preferred embodiment, the loaded ticket may incorporate updated quote data based on more recent market data (such as changes to the price of the underlying instrument, or volatility). The quote entry screen thereby facilitates the market maker&#39;s entry of a binding quote in accordance with the market maker&#39;s indicative quote or an updated quote. Upon the market maker&#39;s submission of the quote and its receipt by the exchange, the subscriber&#39;s order entry ticket of  FIG. 3D  (or  FIG. 3E ) will be updated to reflect the binding quote data. The subscriber can then decide whether to submit the order after having evaluated the specific values (i.e., bid/ask and volume) associated with the binding quote. Preferably, all LD orders are IOC (Immediate or Cancel) or FOK (Fill or Kill). This means orders will either execute or cancel, and orders will not post to the book. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the interaction of the parties through the network by way of flow diagrams  200  and  250 . Market makers, for example at station MM 2  and MM 4  of  FIG. 1 , connect to the network managing station (LD) to indicate quotable markets; At step  210 , Subscriber station, e.g. Sub  3 , provides and indication of interest by querying the network managing station for specific trading products and receives the address of market makers, for example, MM 2  and MM 4 , and requests and receives indicative quotes. If the network managing station LD pushes a new futures price, this may be used to trigger Subscriber Sub  3  to query for updated quotes from market makers MM 2  and MM 3 . As discussed above, other triggering devices may be used to cause subscribers to request updated quotes. For example, quotes may be requested at periodic intervals. The period may be a predefined period set by the subscriber, or may be adjusted up (or down) automatically in response to various other factors. Typical factors may include high (low) volume, high (low) volatility, or even an indication from the subscriber that an RFQ and/or order may be imminent. This indication may be by way of a screen activated button or similar subscriber input. 
     At step  210  in the process, a subscriber such as Sub  3  issues a request for quote (RFQ). The subscriber may then selectively submit an order in step  240 , or preferably, may first await the completion of the optional step  230 , which is the receipt of an indication that the market maker has submitted a binding quote. 
     With respect to  FIG. 2B , the market maker&#39;s involvement is depicted in flow diagram  250 . At step  260 , the market maker receives an indication of interest from a subscriber and responds by providing one or more indicative quotes. Upon receipt of an RFQ, which is interpreted as a request for a binding quote in step  270 , the market makers, for example MM 3  and MM 4  may respond by selectively sending a binding quote to an Exchange, or directly to the LD. In this way the network provides for electronic communication between market maker, subscriber and Exchanges with the assistance of a network managing station LD so that a subscriber can query market maker, initiation indications to trade, receive responses to indications to trade, issue binding quotes and forward binding quotes to an Exchange. The subscriber can send orders to an Exchange that can be electronically matched and cleared by an Exchange. In the alternative, the network managing station may match binding quotes and orders and clear the trades at an Exchange. 
     As discussed above, requests for binding quotes result in an updated bid/ask quote being sent to the Exchange. During this process, trading parameters under the control of the market maker are accessed to ensure that trading remains under the control of the market maker. In certain circumstances, the market maker may decline to submit a binding quote, or may change his quote from that displayed on the subscriber screen as indicative. 
     Specifically, a market maker station preferably has hardware and software to provide indicative quotes for subscribers and binding quotes to be sent to Exchanges. The options&#39; theoretical values from which the quotes are derived are calculated using industry standard algorithms, namely the Black-Scholes Model and for certain instruments the American Whaley Model. Components of the quote are the bid price, bid quantity, ask price, and ask quantity. Additionally, the market maker calculates two sets of prices, one with a narrow spread (or range between the bid and ask), and one with a wider spread. This allows the market maker to switch between narrow and wide spreads during the trading day in response to market activity. Bid price and ask price are determined by decreasing (for bid) and increasing (for ask) the theoretical value by a variable amount that depends on various risk parameters, as follows: 
     N and W are parameters maintained by the market maker to determine the narrow and wide spread values; FV is the fair value of the option as calculated by the above-mentioned standard pricing models; V is Vega, a measure of the rate of change in an option&#39;s theoretical value for a one-unit change in the volatility of the underlying. Vega is an output of the standard pricing models. 
     Then, the bid and ask prices for the quote (B, A) are calculated as follows: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 B(narrow) 
                 = 
                 FV − V*N 
               
               
                   
                 B(wide) 
                 = 
                 FV − V*W 
               
               
                   
                 A(narrow) 
                 = 
                 FV + V*N 
               
               
                   
                 A(wide) 
                 = 
                 FV + V*W 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Quantity for the quote is calculated by taking four variables maintained by the market maker for each options month and using the Delta and Vega of the individual option symbol to calculate the quantity across the range of options strike prices, as follows:
 
 Q= max [ Q   min , min[ Q   max   , D   max   ÷D, V   max   ÷V]], 
 
where Q min  is the minimum quantity, maintained by the market maker; Q max  is the maximum absolute quantity, maintained by the market maker; D max  is the maximum quantity in terms of aggregate Delta, maintained by the market maker; V max  is the maximum quantity in terms of aggregate Vega, maintained by the market maker; D is Delta, a measure of the rate of change in an option&#39;s theoretical value for a one-unit change in the price of the underlying security, and is an output of the standard pricing models; and, V is Vega, as defined above.
 
     In one embodiment, the market maker station consists of a database containing pricing data from which quotes (both indicative and binding) are determined in response to a subscriber request. The parameters of this database are controlled by screens similar to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C. 
     The market marker generates a matrix of bid and ask prices and quantities at different volatilities and underlying prices that cover the expected short-term movement of the market. This matrix is accessed to provide indicative quotes, based on the current volatility (as controlled by the market maker) and the underlying price (usually provided by the appropriate Exchange in a data feed). Market makers ‘tweak’ their bids and asks by changing their volatility levels. They can also pull (revoke) their quotes, either individually or by product, as well as send in new arrays at any time. 
     The “Sheets” screen of  FIG. 4A  allows the market maker to calculate implied volatilities, Bid, Fair and Ask values and the Quantity, given a few inputs. The market maker may select an option from the drop-down box in the upper left corner (Future and Days Left boxes fill in automatically once option is chosen). To plot a new curve, the market maker enters strikes and prices for the option chosen. The table at the top of the Sheets window is used to enter strikes in decimal format. Corresponding prices are entered using tick format. The put price is used for the ATM strike. Other fields for the option chosen are entered. The slope is defined as (change in implied volatility)/(change in strike); 0.15 is a typical starting value for Call Slope and Put Slope which determine the curve&#39;s shape in the wings. 
     The market maker enters the Interest Rate, Futures (price in tick format) and Date, which can be any date as long as the entries made for strikes, prices and call/put slopes correspond to this date. The entries for the Display Quantity and Bid/Ask Spread fields (to be associated with the second Date) are completed, as well as the Min and Max Contracts. This will be used to limit the quantities shown on the Sheets screen and the Tweak screen of  FIG. 4B . (Example: 100 Min and 500 Max will keep quantities between 100 and 500 regardless of quantity multiplier). 
     The market maker enters (in decimal format as a fraction of a tick) the width Of the preferred bid/ask spread. Vega preferably does not affect this calculation. (For example, entering 0.25 is a quarter tick above/below fair value for Bid/Ask). The market maker then enters (in ticks) the Max Ticks and Min Ticks allowed as the difference between the bid and the ask. The second Date, Future Bid and Future Ask (prices in tick format) are entered for which desired calculations are made in the large table below the graph. Then, the market maker selects Narrow or Wide to choose from the two sets of Bid/Ask Spread values that have been entered. 
     Finally, the market maker selects the “Calculate” button, resulting in new calculated values being entered in the large table. The Call Slope and Put Slope may be adjusted as necessary to obtain a suitable fit on wing prices in the table, followed by a recalculation to check table prices. Further, the parameters for the graph may be adjusted, including Min Strike, Max Strike, Min Vol and Max Vol. Selecting “Reset Graph Scale” applies the new choices to the graph. Entries made on the Sheets screen may be saved by selecting the “Save Profile” button (publishing is not required in order to save). 
     To publish, the market maker may select a future price range for which to publish by entering future prices (tick format) in the High and Low fields (preferably keeping this range at 4 points or less to keep publishing times down). The market maker then selects either full (0.01) or half tick (0.005) increments. For Volatility Range, the market maker enters a High, Low and volatility Increment at which to publish, and chooses an increment of at least 0.05 and Volatility Range of at most 1% for High and Low to avoid long publishing times. “High” represents the percentage that volatility will go up and “Low” represents the percentage that volatility will go down for this publishing period. The action is completed by clicking the “Publish” button. Data will be saved in a temporary table which can be made “Live” using the “Tweak” screen of  FIG. 4B . If there is any existing temp data, a pop-up box will ask the user if this data should be overwritten. All data entry is saved as the profile “Last Published.” 
     The Tweak screen is depicted in  FIG. 4C , and is used to modify published “live” values (values that are being broadcasted to customers via Market Overview) without republishing. Once an option is published, Tweak contains temporary (Temp) data that may be modified by changing volatilities; once these changes are made, they can be applied to live data. 
     Depending on hardware, software, and network conditions, subscriber requests for indicative prices are treated either as a query which results in a single set of indicative quotes to be sent to the subscriber (every second, for instance, or when the underlying price moves), or as a request for continuous updates (i.e. ‘pushed’ by the market maker). For a request for continuous updates, the market maker station monitors the underlying price and other factors that determine the indicative quote and ‘pushes’ a new indicative quote to the subscriber when necessary. 
     When a subscriber requests a price, the database process preferably uses the current futures price and market maker-specified volatility level to determine the current bid and ask for each market maker. The best price (highest bid and lowest offer) is then sent out to the subscriber. If two or more market makers are indicating the same price, the quantity is aggregated accordingly. The effect of this approach is to provide the subscriber with tighter and deeper markets due to the aggregation of competitive quotes from multiple market makers. 
     In another embodiment, the market maker stations generate indicative quotes for structured futures products, such as those traded in the Chicago Mercantile Exchange&#39;s Eurodollar complex or the London Financial Futures Exchange&#39;s Euribor complex. These products are characterized by the trading of several futures grouped as a single transaction. These are known generically as strips, and the CME further defines them as packs and bundles. A pack, for example, is the simultaneous transfer of one contract each of four consecutive futures months. Bundles involve the transfer of one contract each of four, eight, 12, or 16 consecutive futures months. As with options, indicative quotes are generated by the market maker stations and transmitted to subscribers. Subscribers then request binding quotes, and send orders into the exchange to match against the market maker&#39;s responses to those requests. 
       FIG. 4C  shows the “Efuture” screen, which serves as an electronic eye to obtain Bid and Ask prices for any futures. It allows the user to set the spread value that determines the value of back-month futures used to determine options spreads. If necessary, this rule can be used to manually match the front-month future price. a/c/e Bid and Ask prices can be followed or alternative Bid and Ask prices may be used. 
     In one embodiment of the market maker station, the market overview screen, as shown in  FIG. 5A , displays both the best bid and ask (as would be displayed to the subscriber) as well as the market makers&#39; own bid and ask. Color coding is preferably used to indicate whether the market maker&#39;s own bid (ask) is at or below (above) the best bid (ask).  FIG. 5B  illustrates how this information is displayed on the Quote Entry window, used by the market maker to send binding quotes into the market. 
     In another embodiment, the market maker station is a gateway application connecting a market maker&#39;s internal network to the LD network. In this case, the functions of the market maker station are controlled by other applications running within the market maker&#39;s internal network. These applications may be trading front-ends or trading programs used to access the LD network. In this case, the LD market maker gateway provides a protocol for passing messages between the networks. These messages include receiving and responding to requests for indicative and binding quotes. 
     A network managing station has hardware and software to a directory of participants receiving and providing quotes. The network managing station consists of hardware (for instance, Windows-based servers) that runs application software that validates and coordinates the use of the LD network. Each subscriber and market maker station connects to the network managing station for the purpose of logging in. When market makers connect, they provide a list of products that they are interested in quoting. When subscribers connect, they provide a list of products they are interested in trading. This list of products and participants is updated as users log in/out or change their product list. As this list changes, the network managing station notifies the participants. This allows each participant to respond accordingly. In one embodiment, the network managing station is not directly involved in the requesting of binding quotes, or sending quotes and orders to Exchanges, but rather monitors this activity and maintains an audit trail for review purposes. Depending upon the rules and regulations of a specific Exchange, however, the network managing station may serve as central matching utility, collecting orders and binding quotes from participants and transmitting matched trades to an Exchange for clearing. 
     An Exchange may be any listed Exchange or over-the-counter (OTC) entity that pluralities of LD participants agree is a suitable medium for transacting and clearing trades. An Exchange may have a central order book and regulations that require all orders to be matched on a “price-time” priority basis, or it may allow block trades to be transmitted and cleared outside of the central order book. In certain cases, an “Exchange” may consist of only a price reporting agency and a clearing house. 
     Those skilled in these arts will recognize a variety of system architecture, interphase devices, communication links, data management system and enabling software to carryout the invention. The network technology used for this invention may be Local Area (LAN), Wide Area (WAN), wireless, Internet or Intranet, or a combination of all these approaches. Message protocols may be based upon TCP/IP with additional functionality from Microsoft&#39;s Message Queue, but an XML-based protocol provides maximum flexibility and is preferred. Front-ends may include custom software programmed in Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft C++, and Java. Alternately a browser-based version can be implemented in HTML for platform-independent use. The market maker station users Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, but is portable to Oracle, Sybase, or SQL Server 2000. The above description is intended to illustrate the invention and not to limit it in spirit or scope.