Mechanism and business method for implementing a service contract futures exchange

摘要

The present invention relates a futures exchange for services contracts. The SerFEx is an electronic market system that enables the exchange of cash (spot and forward) contracts and futures contracts for the delivery of services. Services are traded on the exchange similar to commodities on a prior art commodities exchange. The exchange allows the futures market to determine the right price for services for the producers and consumers of those services. Participants may buy, sell, or leverage services contracts through a variety of order types. The exchange is composed of an electronic infrastructure that has four major components: a front-end facility comprised of licensed authorized intermediaries, an automated bid/ask matching system, a clearinghouse system, and a title management system. The exchange operates twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week with all accounts settled at least once in every twenty-four hours. Participants in the exchange may be producers of services, intermediaries, speculators, and consumers of the services.