Reuters 3000 Xtra
| Developer(s) | Reuters |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1999 |
| Stable release | 5.1
/ 2007 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| Type | Technical analysis software Electronic trading platform |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | http://thomsonreuters.com |
Reuters 3000 Xtrawas anelectronic trading platformwhich was released byReutersin 1999 and supported until the end of 2013. It was typically used by professionaltradersandfinancial analystsintrading rooms.It was superseded by theEikonplatform, first released in 2010.
3000 Xtra provided real-timemarket datasuch as price data on exchange traded stocks, warrants, options, futures, indices, bonds, commodities andcurrencies,as well as streaming news and comprehensiveeconomic indicatorsand financial data. Originally designed as an information system, later versions also introduced trading functions, allowing orders to be placed on a number of electronic exchanges and with other dealing desks.
The client software connected to Reuters hardware at the client's premises, which combined multiple connections to the Reuters networks over redundant, fault-tolerant dedicated links, often privateT1s.This was provided on-site via a proprietary and often redundant hardware installation, such asReuters Market Data System(RMDS) orTriarch.One of the early attractions for dealers was the integration with Microsoft Excel and theinstant messagingfacility for sending messages to other dealing desks. The flexible Kobra client software allowed for a variety of real-time and historic market data visualizations and custom analytics. In addition, it could provide real-time Reuters headlines and news.
It went on to become the de facto platform on traders' desks inbanksandfinancial institutionsdue to the breadth of the information available, despite the significant cost and dedicated infrastructure required.[1]Its main rival was theBloomberg Terminal,although in many cases both systems were used.
History
[edit]
The 3000 Xtra system was first released in 1999, but in many ways was a continuation of previous Reuters products that included Equities 2000 (released in 1987),Dealing 2000-2(released in 1992), 3000 Series (released in 1996) and "Advanced Reuters Terminal" (released in 1986). It inherited a lot of design features such as much of theuser interfacefrom those earlier systems that were developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[2]
Thomson Reutersbegan decommissioning Reuters 3000 Xtra in 2013,[3]replacing it by the newerThomson ReutersEikonplatform.
Architecture
[edit]The system was designed to use private network links to Reuters to get live prices from global stock, commodity, futures, derivative and bond markets as well as foreign exchange price makers. The client terminal would connect to a localUnixserver typically hosted on site by the financial institution. The server would have dedicated links back to Reuters global network. The client software was a Windows-based application. Live connection to Excel spreadsheets was provided via the ReutersPower Plus Proutility. The system was enhanced through a number of different versions over the years. From version 5 onwards, it was qualified forCitrixthin client delivery, which became a common way to access the software.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Banks Look for Alternatives to Reuters' 3000 Xtra Package".Inside Market Data. June 3, 2002.
- ^"FX Inter-dealer Platform Suffers Outage".Forex Magnates. August 22, 2012.
- ^"Thomson Reuters to Retire 3000 Xtra".WatersTechnology. November 2013.Retrieved31 Jan2014.
