Financial-information systems, methods, interfaces and software

Abstract

Within the financial-services industry, there are online centers that allow brokers to match sellers with buyers of financial instruments based on indications of interest. However, at least some of these centers are not only limited in the types of IOIs that they provide, but also in the ways they allow IOI viewers to leverage the collective IOIs of multiple entities for a given stock or financial instrument. Accordingly, the present inventors devised systems, methods, interfaces, and software that enhance the ability of such online centers, or more generally financial-information systems, to facilitate trades. One exemplary financial-information system provides an IOI which is associated with an indicator of an enhanced or heightened willingness of its issuer to actually complete a trade, thereby expediting identification of ready trading partners. Additional features include an enhanced IOI search based on desired price or quantity and a multiparty request-for-quote function.