System and method for managing trading orders received from market makers

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method of managing trading is provided. A first offer for a particular instrument in a particular market is received from a first market maker at a first offer price. A first bid for the same particular instrument in the same particular market is received from a second market maker at a first bid price, the first bid price being higher than or equal to the first offer price. As a result of the first bid price being higher than or equal to the first offer price, the first offer price is automatically increased to a price higher than the first bid price such that a trade is not executed between the first offer and the first bid. In some embodiments, such method may be used to protect market makers from unwanted trades caused by inherent latency in the market makers' pricing engines and/or networks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing trading, comprising:
 receiving a first offer for a particular instrument in a particular market from a first market maker at a first offer price;   receiving a first bid for the same particular instrument in the same particular market from a second market maker at a first bid price, the first bid price being higher than or equal to the first offer price; and   as a result of the first bid price being higher than or equal to the first offer price, automatically increasing the first offer price to a price higher than the first bid price.