Method and system for providing financial information and evaluating securities of a financial debt instrument

Abstract

An apparatus, method and data structure for procuring and analyzing information, particularly information regarding the financial markets. The system provides a comprehensive combination of financial information in a format that facilitates analysis and decision-making.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for evaluating securities using a computer connected to a plurality of databases, comprising: 
 searching the plurality of databases to identify information relating to a plurality of companies as specified by a user of the computer;    transmitting the identified information to the computer via a data network; and    manipulating the transmitted information to provide a table of financial information.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the security is a debt instrument and manipulating the transmitted information comprises determining the duration of the debt instrument.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the security is a debt instrument and manipulating the transmitted information comprises determining the option adjusted spread of the debt instrument.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the security is a debt instrument and manipulating the transmitted information comprises determining the average life of the debt instrument.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the security is a debt instrument and manipulating the transmitted information comprises determining the option value of the debt instrument.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the security is a debt instrument and manipulating the transmitted information comprises determining the theoretical value of the debt instrument.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising targeting investors based on current ownership of a particularly structured security.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising targeting investors based on past preference of a particularly structured security.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising identifying arbitrage opportunities.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising analyzing a group of securities regarding intrinsic and incremental value of portfolio duration.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising analyzing a group of securities regarding average portfolio coupon.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising analyzing a group of securities regarding average portfolio maturity.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising analyzing a group of securities regarding portfolio option value.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising analyzing a group of securities regarding theoretical portfolio value.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising analyzing a group of securities regarding portfolio efficiency.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising comparing a first duration/cost relationship of a security to a second duration/cost relationship of other companies.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining hedging decisions by evaluating the costs associated with rising interest rates and hedging.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising storing information relating to a plurality of securities on a plurality of databases.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for evaluating securities for duration, option adjusted spread, average life, and option value and theoretical value comprising: 
 a data network;    a plurality of databases operably connected to said data network; and    a computer operably connected to said plurality of databases via said data network, said computer having a storage area, wherein said computer searches said plurality of databases to identify information relating to a plurality of companies as specified by a user of said computer, said databases transmit said identified information to said storage area of said computer via said data network, said computer manipulates said transmitted information to provide a table of financial information.    
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for evaluating securities for duration, option adjusted spread, average life, and option value and theoretical value comprising: 
 means for transmitting information;    means for storing company information, said means for storing being operably connected to said means for transmitting; and    means for computing operably connected to said means for storing via said means for transmitting information, said means for computing comprises 
 a storage area,  
 means for searching said means for storing to identify company information as specified by a user of said means for computing, wherein said identified information is sent from said means for storing to said storage area of said computer via said means for transmitting,  
 means for manipulating said transmitted information to provide a table of financial information.  
   
     
     
         21 . In a system for evaluating securities, a computer-readable memory for storing data for access by an application program comprising: 
 a data structure stored in said computer-readable memory, said data structure including information used by said application program and including: 
 a plurality of price fields;  
 a plurality of option adjusted spread fields;  
 a plurality of volatility fields;  
 a plurality of initial coupon fields;  
 wherein said fields have values and said application program calculates the values of one of said plurality of fields based upon the values of the other three of said plurality of fields.  
   
     
     
         22 . The data structure of said computer-readable memory of  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of settlement date fields.  
     
     
         23 . In a system for evaluating securities, a computer-readable memory for storing data for access by an application program comprising: 
 a data structure stored in said computer-readable memory, said data structure including information used by said application program and including: 
 a plurality of treasury yield fields;  
 a plurality of spread fields;  
 a plurality of corporate yield fields;  
 wherein said application program calculates said corporate yield fields based upon said plurality of treasury yield and spread fields.  
   
     
     
         24 . The data structure of said computer-readable memory of  claim 23  wherein said plurality of spread fields comprises a plurality of parallel shift fields.  
     
     
         25 . The data structure of said computer-readable memory of  claim 23  wherein said plurality of spread fields comprises a plurality of pivoting shift fields.  
     
     
         26 . The data structure of said computer-readable memory of  claim 23  wherein said plurality of spread fields comprises a plurality of two-point tilting fields.  
     
     
         27 . In a system for creating a yield-curve environment, a computer-readable memory for storing data for access by an application program comprising: 
 a data structure stored in said computer-readable memory, said data structure including information used by said application program and including: 
 a plurality of term fields;  
 a plurality of treasury yield fields;  
 a plurality of spread fields;  
 wherein said application program calculates cost of funds fields based upon said plurality of term, treasury yield and spread fields.