Trading tools for electronic trading
Tools for trading and monitoring a commodity on an electronic exchange using a graphical user interface and a user input device. The tools will aid the trader in determining the status, trends in the market, and the trader's position in the market.
1. A method for displaying market information corresponding to a commodity being traded at an electronic exchange, comprising:
receiving by a computer device market data relating to the commodity from the electronic exchange, the market data comprising a quantity of an order that is pending at a first price level;
displaying by the computer device a first graphical area corresponding to the first price level;
displaying by the computer device a second graphical area corresponding to a second price level, the second price level corresponding to a price level for the commodity that is different than the first price level, wherein the first and second graphical areas are arranged in an axial direction;
color-coding the first graphical area using a first color to indicate that the order is pending at the first price level;
determining by the computer device from the market data that there is no order pending at the second price level;
color-coding the second graphical area using a second color to indicate that there is no order pending at the second price level;
updating the first graphical area such that the first graphical area is color-coded using the second color in response to new market data indicating that there is no order pending at the first price level; and
updating the second graphical area such that the second graphical area is color-coded using the first color in response to new market data indicating that there is an order pending at the second price level.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying an indicator in relation to the first price level, the indicator corresponding to a current highest bid price level or a current lowest ask price level provided in the market data; and
updating the display of the indicator such that the indicator is displayed in relation to a new price level in response to the receipt of new market data representing a new current highest bid price level or a new current lowest ask price level represented by the indicator.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying an order entry region comprising a plurality of graphical areas corresponding to a plurality of price levels, the plurality of graphical areas in the order entry region arranged in the axial direction, such that a selection of one of the plurality of graphical areas of the order entry region sends a trade order to the electronic exchange for the commodity, the trade order comprising a price based on the selected graphical area and a default order quantity; and
sending the trade order to the electronic exchange in response to the selection of one of the plurality of graphical areas of the order entry region by a single action of a user input device.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
displaying a bid order entry region comprising a plurality of graphical areas corresponding to the plurality of price levels, the plurality of graphical areas in the bid order entry region arranged in the axial direction and for sending bid trade orders; and
displaying an ask order entry region comprising a plurality of graphical areas corresponding to the plurality of price levels, the plurality of graphical areas in the ask order entry region arranged in the axial direction and for sending ask trade orders.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the bid order entry region overlaps a bid display region comprising a plurality of graphical areas corresponding to the plurality of price levels, and wherein the ask order entry region overlaps an ask display region comprising a plurality of graphical areas corresponding to the plurality of price levels.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the single action of the user input device consists of a single click of a mouse.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the single action of the user input device consists of a double click of a mouse.
8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the single action consists of one or more clicks of the user input device within a short period of time.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein displaying the indicator comprises displaying an order quantity corresponding to the current highest bid price level or the current lowest ask price level represented by the indicator.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein displaying the indicator comprises displaying the current highest bid price level or the current lowest ask price level represented by the indicator.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical area is displayed in a bid display region or an ask display region, each of the bid display region and the ask display region comprising a plurality of graphical areas corresponding to a plurality of price levels, the plurality of graphical areas in the bid display region or the ask display region arranged in the axial direction.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second graphical area is displayed in a bid display region or an ask display region, each of the bid display region and the ask display region comprising a plurality of graphical areas corresponding to a plurality of price levels, the plurality of graphical areas in the bid display region or the ask display region arranged in the axial direction.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical area and the second graphical area are consecutive graphical areas arranged in the axial direction.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical area and the second graphical area are not consecutive graphical areas arranged in the axial direction.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a third graphical area corresponding to a third price level; and
color-coding the third graphical area using the first color to indicate that there is an order pending at the third price level.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein color-coding the first graphical area comprises applying the first color to a background of the first graphical area, and wherein color-coding the second graphical area comprises applying the second color to a background of the second graphical area.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein color-coding the first graphical area comprises applying the first color to text displayed at the first graphical area, and wherein the text displayed at the first graphical area comprises the first price level.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying market depth of the commodity, through a display of a plurality of bid indicators and a plurality of ask indicators, wherein the plurality of bid indicators and the plurality of ask indicators are displayed in relation to a plurality of price levels arranged in the axial direction.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical area comprises a first cell, and wherein the second graphical area comprises a second cell.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical area displays the first price level or an order quantity for the order pending at the first price level.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second graphical area displays the second price level.