Patent ID: 7533052

Claim:
A method for use in an automated trading system, where a market maker is responsible for providing in a first computer-based exchange a buy price and a sell price to trade a financial instrument and where a difference between the buy price and the sell price defines a spread for the financial instrument, comprising the following steps implemented at the first computer-based exchange: receiving a quote comprising a volume and a price associated with the buying and/or selling of the financial instrument that requires an improved buy price and/or sell price for trading the financial instrument relative to the buy price and/or sell price for trading the financial instrument offered in the first computer-based exchange; and automatically using a current buy price and/or a current sell price for the financial instrument obtained from a second computer-based exchange to execute the quote of the financial instrument at the improved buy price and/or sell price at the first computer-based exchange, wherein the quote further includes a multiplier parameter for controlling a volume of the quote by multiplying the multiplier parameter with a volume at the second computer-based exchange.