Treasury "when issued" auction futures contracts

Abstract

A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention comprises a way to hedge exposure in when issued securities as well as in the auction bidding process. The trading unit is the notional value of a yet-to-be issued Treasury note. The futures contract is quoted in yield terms, in basis points and fractions of basis points. The last trading day of the futures contract is the day a Treasury note is auctioned, at the same time as the auction takes place. The delivery standard is the auction yield result announced by the Federal Reserve Bank. The futures contract settles for cash.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to Treasury contracts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Auctions are an integral component of the trading and distribution of U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Treasury coupon trading in the 2-year and 5-year sectors is significantly greater during auction times. Generally, cash trading averages an extra $25 Billion plus per day during auction weeks. (See detailed calculation, set forth below). Both Treasury auctions and “when issued” (WI) trading are important price discovery mechanisms.

[0003] In recent years, the U.S. Treasury has materially altered trading practices for government securities in at least two ways. First, as a matter of policy, the U.S. Treasury has shortened the “WI” trading period by reducing the time elapsed between financing announcements and auctions. Second, the U.S. Treasury has changed auction bidding procedures.

[0004] On Sep. 3, 1992, the U.S. Treasury announced that it would conduct single-price auctions to sell 2-year and 5-year notes. Previously, Treasury coupon bearing securities were sold only using multiple price auctions. As a result of its successful experience with 2-year and 5-year notes, the U.S. Treasury now sells all coupon issues using the single price auction method. These issues are assigned an identification number by the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (CUSIP). CUSIP is operated by Standard & Poor's, located at 55 Water Street, New York, N.Y. 10041 (“S&P”). A listing all of all coupon auctions from October 1998 through February 2003 is set forth in Appendix 1.

[0005] Single price auctions differ from multiple price auctions in one important aspect. In multiple price auctions, awards are made at successively lower prices (higher yields) until the designated sale amount has been exhausted. Bids accepted at the lowest price (highest yield) are pro-rated. In a single price auction, bids are ranked from highest to lowest. When the point is reached where (cumulatively) all bonds are spoken for, accepted bids are then filled at the highest accepted yield (lowest price).

[0006] For example, consider the outcome for the same set of bids under different auction rules:

TABLE 1
$10 Billion Hypothetical Treasury Auction Bids
under Different Rules
Multiple Price Auction	Single Price Auction
Quantity Bid	Yield Bid	Quantity Bid	Yield Bid
$2 Billion	2.00%	$2 Billion	2.00%
$3 Billion	2.01%	$3 Billion	2.01%
$5 Billion	2.02%	$5 Billion	2.02%
$6 Billion	2.03%	$6 Billion (Not	2.03%
	(Not accepted)	accepted)
Total Bids	$16 Billion	Total Bids	$16 Billion
Total Awards	$10 Billion	Total Awards	$10 Billion
Average Yield	2.013%	Auction Yield	2.02%

[0007] As Table 1 illustrates, under a multiple price auction the U.S. Treasury accepts the first $10 Billion worth of bids (in yield ascending order) at the yields bid for. In this example, an average weighted interest cost of 2.013% results. In a single price auction, the U.S. Treasury accepts the $10 Billion lowest yielding bids and awards all the bonds at the highest winning yield, which in this case is 2.02%.

[0008] Some economists, most prominently Milton Friedman (See Milton Friedman, Testimony in Employment, Growth, and Price Levels: Hearings before the Joint Economic Committee, 86th Congress, 1st Session, 3023-3026 (Oct. 30, 1959); Milton Friedman, How to Sell Government Securities, WALL STREET JOURNAL, Aug. 28, 1991, at A8), have argued that compared to single price auctions, the multiple auction process is costly. In its essence, the argument is that auction bidders are likely to bid more aggressively—pay higher prices—at single price auctions rather than at multiple price auctions. There are two reasons for this.

[0009] First, there is the problem of the “winner's curse.” (For a discussion of the winner's curse, see PETER BERNSTEIN, AGAINST THE GODS, THE REMARKABLE STORY OF RISK, 244 (John Wiley & Sons 1996); Paul F. Malvey, Christine M. Archibald, Sean T. Flynn, Uniform-Price Auctions: Evaluation of the Treasury Experience, Office of Market Finance, U.S. Treasury (1995) In a multiple price auction, successful bidders pay the actual price they bid. Conversely, in a single price auction successful bidders pay only the lowest price (highest yield). Multiple price auction bidders thus inadvertently signal their willingness to pay higher than market prices. As a result, attempts to sell the bonds immediately thereafter in the secondary market are liable to result in losses.

[0010] Thus, winning auction bonds results in losing money—hence the winner's curse. Since dealers are rational players seeking to maximize profits, they take steps to avoid the winner's curse: they bid lower prices (higher yields) than they otherwise would have, thereby increasing the U.S. Treasury's cost of funds. To the extent that single price auctions eliminate the winner's curse, bidders should be willing to bid more aggressively, thereby reducing the U.S. Treasury's borrowing costs.

[0011] Second, single price auctions are strategically simpler than multiple price auctions. As a result, bidders' information seeking costs are reduced. Moreover, in a single price system, those with specialized knowledge (e.g., dealers) lose their competitive edge. Reducing the importance of specialized knowledge encourages participation by others who would otherwise be hesitant to bid. This results in broader and deeper auction participation. In theory, the combination of these two factors should increase demand and reduce the U.S. Treasury financing costs.

[0012] The graph set forth in FIG. 1 illustrates the theory, where:

[0013] S is a supply curve;

[0014] P1 is a first price;

[0015] P2 is a second price, where P2>P1;

[0016] D1 is a first demand curve;

[0017] D2 is a second demand curve, where D2>D1;

[0018] E1 is a first equilibrium point; and

[0019] E2 is a second equilibrium point.

[0020] Equilibrium point E1 occurs at the intersection of D1 and S resulting in Price P1. Equilibrium point E2 occurs at the intersection of D2 and S resulting in Price P2. With no change in supply and an increase in demand (from D1 to D2), prices rise (from P1 to P2) for the reasons discussed above. The saving to the U.S. Treasury is equal to the difference in price times the quantity sold, that is:

Interest Savings=Q*(P2−P1).

[0021] As a matter of public policy the U.S. Treasury seeks financing at the lowest possible interest cost. Accordingly, the U.S. Treasury studied its experimental use of single price auctions. To conduct the study the U.S. Treasury used a quasi-experimental design. Results of single and multiple price auctions were compared. Specifically, single price auctions of 2-year and 5-year notes from September 1992 through December 1994 were compared with same maturity multiple price auctions from January 1990 through August 1992. (See Malvey, Archibald & Flynn).

[0022] The U.S. Treasury estimated the impact of using a single price format on U.S. Treasury interest costs and the distribution of participation in auctions. The U.S. Treasury reported the following findings. Initially, the concentration of auction awards to top dealers was reduced, implying broader participation. At the same time, shares awarded to large customers increased, further evidencing broadened participation. Between 1995 and 1998 the U.S. Treasury reported that the trend abated somewhat as dealers gained experience with the single price format.

[0023] The U.S. Treasury also found some evidence that under the multiple price format, dealers were able to command a yield premium. However, under a single price format, there was no statistically significant evidence that that dealers could command this premium. The U.S. Treasury interpreted this to mean that single price auctions resulted in more aggressive bidding leading to reduced financing costs. Thus, single price auctions are here to stay.

[0024] Once the U.S. Treasury schedules an auction of Treasury securities, cash dealers begin to trade the new issue on a WI basis. In the WI market, dealers quote the securities on a yield basis to be settled by an exchange of cash for securities. The WI settlement date for the securities to be sold at auction is announced by the U.S. Treasury. The dollar price for settlement purposes is determined by conventional yield-to-price calculations once the security's coupon has been established through the auction process.

[0025] There is a well-developed WI market. However, as previously noted the U.S. Treasury has been narrowing the time frame between auction announcements and the actual auction date. As a result, WI periods have been greatly shortened over time, reducing the time dealers have to distribute the new securities. Typically, the WI period for 2-year notes is a few days.

[0026] Changing the auction format to single price while shortening the WI period greatly reduces dealers' information advantages and exposes them to greater risk. Not only does the short WI period make it more difficult for dealers to gauge market demand, the single price auction format exposes dealers to the possibility of aggressive bidding that may come “through the market”, forcing them to pay premium prices to cover prior sales. Bidding “through the market” refers to the practice of offering to buy at a price that is higher than the one nominally offered in order to gain a strategic advantage. In the Treasury market there are quantity restrictions placed on bidders so that any one bidder (or group acting in concert) may not buy all the auction supply. Nevertheless, dealers often bid higher than the nominal offered price and for greater size than they actually wish to buy in order to attain a better position in the queue when the bids are tallied.

[0027] Dealers may choose whether to participate (or the likelihood of participation) in a given auction by calibrating the aggressiveness of their bidding. To make sure they buy securities at an auction, dealers may be tempted to “bid through” the market to be assured of purchasing the required supply; at the same time they hope that their competitors do not adopt the same strategy, which would have the effect of lowering auction yields below existing yields in the secondary market.

[0028] However, recent history shows that auctions have not been overly kind to dealers. It is not unusual for auctions to be priced at a premium, rather than a discount, to the cash WI market. The U.S. Treasury found that in 70 out of 138 auctions conducted between September 1992 and May 1998, auctions were priced more expensively than 1:00 PM WI bid side yields, producing negative yield spreads for participating dealers. (See Uniform-Price Auctions: Update of the U.S. Treasury Experience, available at http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/debt-management/auctions-study/final.pdf 14 (1998)). There exists no instrument for dealers to hedge themselves against this in the auction process. Moreover, such premium bids may be discrete events lacking secondary market follow through, leaving participants with instantaneous losses. (See Malvey, Archibald and Flynn (discussing strategic bidding at auctions)).

[0029] What would therefore be desirable would be a contract that captures the price behavior of the underlying “to be issued” security when it is available for trading in the cash market. Such contract could also serve as a substitute WI security before the cash security is available in the cash market. Such contract could provide a hedge against auction uncertainty and promote transparency in auction pricing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0030] A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention captures the price behavior of the underlying “to be issued” security when it is available for trading in the cash market. A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention serves as a substitute WI security before the cash security is available in the cash market. A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention provides a hedge against auction uncertainty and promotes transparency in auction pricing.

[0031] A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention comprises a way to hedge exposure in when issued securities as well as in the auction bidding process. The trading unit is the notional value of a yet-to-be issued Treasury note. The futures contract is quoted in yield terms, in basis points and fractions of basis points. The last trading day of the futures contract is the day a Treasury note is auctioned, at the same time as the auction takes place. The delivery standard is the auction yield result announced by the Federal Reserve Bank. The futures contract settles for cash.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating that the shortening of the trading period and the changed auction bidding procedures increase demand and reduce the U.S. Treasury financing costs.

[0033] FIG. 2 a graph illustrating the relationship between market levels and the dollar value of 1 basis point for 2-year notes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention provides a way for dealers (and other auction participants) to hedge exposure in WI securities as well as the auction bidding process. A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention creates a futures market in the U.S. Treasury WI securities that settle for cash at the auction yield. A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention allows for a longer de facto WI period with centralized clearing and margining. A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention also allows market participants to take either side of the market with respect to auction pricing.

[0035] Currently, only the U.S. Treasury can sell at the average auction price. Consequently, auction participants are held hostage to overly aggressive bids. A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention allows hedgers and speculators to manage exposure to the uncertainty of the auction process. If they anticipate that an auction will “come rich” they can buy WI futures contracts; if they think the auction will “come cheap” they can sell WI contracts short. By carrying positions through the auction bidding process, market participants can potentially capture spreads that develop between cash WI markets and auction results. This is in addition to using correlated price behavior between cash and futures of equal duration to hedge secondary market positions. Because contracts in accordance with the present invention settle for cash using the auction results as a reference rate, the settlement price is an unambiguously transparent, accurate and efficient measure of the market.

[0036] The U.S. Treasury auctions, the manner in which the U.S. Treasury sells almost all its publicly held debt, are an integral part of trading in the government securities market. An examination of cash trading volume in various Treasury maturities during auction weeks makes this clear. The Federal Reserve (Fed) publishes trading volume in government securities in its weekly report of Primary Dealer Transactions in Government Securities. (See Weekly Transactions, available at http://www.ny.frb.org/pihome/statistics/dealer.shtml) In it, the Fed reports average daily trading volume by government securities dealers and their customers (with a 2-week time lag). Because virtually all secondary-market transactions in government securities are executed through dealers, these data are an accurate representation of the universe of transactions in the marketplace.

[0037] These data can be used to estimate the impact of auctions on trading, and hence the importance of auctions to the market. A simple auction impact model is:

Y=α+β 1 X 1 +ε,

[0038] where

[0039] Y is the cash trading volume;

[0040] X1 is the dichotomous variable denoting an auction week (Yes is 1; No is 0);

[0041] β is the impact estimator;

[0042] α is the intercept; and

[0043] ε is the error term.

[0044] Utilizing this equation for the period extending from Nov. 21, 2001, through Mar. 19, 2003, for both 2-year and 5-year notes produces statistically significant (p=0.01) results. On average, during their respective auction weeks, cash trading in the 2-year note sector increases by about $25 Billion per day, while average daily trading in the 5-year sector increases by about $29 Billion. (Detailed regression results are included in Appendix 2) No outstanding futures contracts fully capture increased trading due to impending auctions. Nor do any outstanding futures contracts (or cash securities) capture the pricing impact of the single price auctions used to sell these securities.

[0045] A futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention is modeled on, and settles against, the cash Treasury auction. The trading unit is the notional value of a yet-to-be issued Treasury note. The delivery standard is the auction yield result announced by the Federal Reserve Bank. The contract is cash settled.

[0046] While an exemplary contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention is described below, it should be appreciated that the use of different elements and different combinations thereof are to be considered within the scope of the present invention

EXAMPLE

[0047] An example of a futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention is a 2-year note futures contract having a notional value of $1,000,000. The contract will be quoted in yield terms rather than price terms. This mirrors conventional cash market practice. In general, a Treasury security's coupon rate is determined at an auction. Consequently, before an auction takes place, WI securities can only be quoted in yield (because the coupon is required for a meaningful price quote).

[0048] Yield quotes will be in basis points and fractions of basis points. (One hundred basis points equal one full percentage point or 1%). The minimum increment or “tick” size will be ¼ of one full basis point. The dollar value of one basis point for the contract will equal $185.83. One-quarter of one basis point will equal $46.46. Using $185.83 as the dollar value of 1 basis point implicitly centers the contract at a 6% market rate, consistent with existing 2-year, 5-year, 10-year and bond contracts that trade on a price and cash delivery basis at the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Ill. 60604-2994 (CBOT). Ticks may extend to 4 decimal places—for example, 1.7125 bid/1.7075 offered.

[0049] The dollar value of 1 basis point is not static in the market place; it is sensitive to the level of rates. (See FRANK J. FABOZZI, FIXED INCOME MATHEMATICS, chap. 5-7 (McGraw-Hill 3rd ed. 1997)). Consequently, hedge ratios may have to be re-weighted, depending on the level of rates. FIG. 2 shows a graph illustrating the relationship between market levels and the dollar value of 1 basis point for 2-year notes.

[0050] Twelve consecutive calendar months will be available for listing. Those months included in the U.S. Treasury's Tentative Schedule of Issues to be Announced and Auctioned will be listed for trading. (The current schedule includes 6 months: February through July 2003). The Treasury's Office of Market Finance publishes the schedule on its website. (See http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/debtmanagement/auctions/index.html) The designated front month contract is the one that will be settled against the next 2-year note auction.

[0051] The last trading day for the front contract is the day of the auction. The last trading day will be the day a two-year Treasury note is auctioned, at the same time as the auction takes place. Trading will cease at the time auction bids are due at the Fed. That time is designated by the New York Federal Reserve Bank, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10045, and is usually (almost, but not always) at 1:00 PM Eastern time. For example if the Treasury auction takes place at 1:00 PM EST January 29, futures trading stops at 1:00 PM EST January 29. The contract will be cash settled against the auction yield announced by the Federal Reserve.

[0052] In the event that the Treasury cancels an announced and scheduled auction, the constant maturity 2-year rate published by the Federal Reserve for the scheduled auction day shall serve as the settlement reference rate. In the event the Treasury postpones an auction within the delivery month, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the settlement price will remain the auction price. In the event the Treasury postpones an auction so that it falls outside the current (spot) delivery month but does not supplant another scheduled auction, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the auction results will remain the settlement reference rate. For example, if the Treasury has already scheduled March 30 and April 28 auctions and the March 30 auction is postponed until April 1—e.g. because of weather or debt ceiling problems—the April 1 auction results would serve as the reference rate for settling the March contract.

[0053] While the invention has been described with specific embodiments, other alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, a futures contract in accordance with the principals of the present invention can be based on a 2-year note, 5-year note, or any appropriate note term. All such alternatives, modifications and variations are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

APPENDIX 1
Coupon Auctions and their Sizes
from Oct 1998 through Feb 2003
Jan.-Feb. 2003
	CUSIP	912828AV2	912828AT7	912828AU4	912828AS9	912828AF7
	Security Description	2-YR	5-YR	10-YR	2-YR	9-YR 6-MTH
	Announce Date	2/24/03	2/5/03	2/5/03	1/27/03	1/6/03
	Auction Date	2/26/03	2/11/03	2/12/03	1/29/03	1/8/03
	Issue Date	2/28/03	2/18/03	2/18/03	1/31/03	1/15/03
	Maturity Date	2/28/05	2/15/08	2/15/13	1/31/05	7/15/12
	Offering Amount	27	24	18	27	6
	Total Amount Tendered	62214019	37646433	34758222	46750432	13300452
	Total Amount Accepted	35332941	27483982	19496544	33834307	6000109
	Low Yield	1.5	2.9	3.9	1.6	2.2
	Price at Low Yield	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Avg/Med Yield	1.54	2.98	3.93	1.67	2.3
	Price at Avg/Med Yield	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	High Yield	1.58	3.03	3.96	1.71	2.34
	Price at High Yield	99.9	99.9	99.3	99.8	106
	Allocation % at High Rate	90.26	71.96	51.28	65.21	N/A
	Original Issue Date	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	07/15/02
	Interest Rate	1.5	3	3.875	1.625	3
	1st Int. Payment Date	8/31/03	8/15/03	8/15/03	7/31/03	7/15/03
	Series	H-2005	E-2008	A-2013	G-2005	C-2012
	Standard Interest Payment	7.5	15	19.375	8.125	N/A
July-Dec. 2002
CUSIP	912828AR1	912828AQ3	912828AN0	912828AP5	912828AM2	912828AF7	912828AL4	912828AK6	912828AJ9	912828AH3	912828AG5	912828AF7
Security	2 YR	2 YR	5 YR	10 YR	2 YR	9 YR	2 YR	2 YR	10 YR	5 YR	2 YR	10 YR
Description						9 MTH
Announce	12/19/02	11/25/02	10/30/02	10/30/02	10/21/02	10/7/02	9/23/02	8/26/02	7/31/02	7/31/02	7/17/02	7/8/02
Date
Auction Date	12/23/02	11/27/02	11/5/02	11/6/02	10/23/02	10/9/02	9/25/02	8/28/02	8/7/02	8/6/02	7/24/02	7/10/02
Issue Date	12/31/02	12/2/02	11/15/02	11/15/02	10/31/02	10/15/02	9/30/02	9/3/02	8/15/02	8/15/02	7/31/02	7/15/02
Maturity Date	12/31/04	11/30/04	11/15/07	11/15/12	10/31/04	7/15/12	9/30/04	8/31/04	8/15/12	8/15/07	7/31/04	7/15/12
Offering	27	27	22	18	27	7	27	27	18	22	27	9
Amount
Total Amount	57198116	53660076	44424214	34292640	51167042	9493687	61698835	68429927	24852355	42148271	48414434	22870705
Tendered
Total Amount	33195093	32863976	23308184	18110960	32434883	7000047	34652350	34536730	19644624	25395876	33236962	10010395
Accepted
Low Yield	1.8	2	2.9	4	2.1	2.1	1.9	2.2	4.3	3.2	2.1	3
Price at Low	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yield
Avg/Med Yield	1.79	2.08	2.99	4.07	2.1	2.15	1.91	2.2	4.3	3.32	2.22	3.05
Price at	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Avg/Med Yield
High Yield	1.82	2.12	3.03	4.1	2.14	2.26	1.96	2.22	4.39	3.35	2.27	3.1
Price at High	99.9	99.8	99.9	99.2	100	107	99.8	99.8	99.9	99.6	100	99.2
Yield
Allocation %	60.06	53.79	56.3	86.41	42.29	72.92	70.43	6.14	49.47	82.67	11.1	81.62
at High Rate
Original Issue	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	10/31/02	07/15/02	09/30/02	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Date
Interest Rate	1.75	2	3	4	2.125	3	1.875	2.125	4.375	3.25	2.25	3
1st Int.	6/30/03	5/31/03	5/15/03	5/15/03	4/30/03	1/15/03	3/31/03	2/28/03	2/15/03	2/15/03	1/31/03	1/15/03
Payment Date
Series	V-2004	U-2004	G-2007	E-2012	T-2004	C-2012	S-2004	R-2004	D-2012	F-2007	Q-2004	C-2012
Standard	8.75	10	15	20	10.625	N/A	9.375	10.625	21.875	16.25	11.25	N/A
Interest
Payment
Jan.-June 2002
CUSIP	912828AE0	912828AD2	912828AC4	9128277L0	912828AB6	912828AA8	9128277M8	9128277F3	9128277L0	9128277K2	9128277J5
Security	2 YR	2-YR	5-YR	9-YR 9- MTH	2-YR	2-YR	2-YR	4-YR 9- MTH	10-YR	2-YR	10-YR
Description
Announce	6/28/02	5/22/02	5/1/02	5/1/02	4/17/02	3/20/02	2/20/02	1/30/02	1/30/02	1/16/02	1/2/02
Date
Auction Date	6/28/02	5/29/02	5/7/02	5/8/02	4/24/02	3/27/02	2/27/02	2/5/02	2/6/02	1/23/02	1/9/02
Issue Date	7/1/02	5/31/02	5/15/02	5/15/02	4/30/02	4/1/02	2/28/02	2/15/02	2/15/02	1/31/02	1/15/02
Maturity	6/30/04	5/31/04	5/15/07	2/15/12	4/30/04	3/31/04	2/29/04	11/15/06	2/15/12	1/31/04	1/15/12
Date
Offering	27	27	22	11	25	25	25	16	13	25	6
Amount
Total Amount	42484491	78799558	40155236	24073072	57596062	56915536	51952645	24400851	24105680	44245498	14317397
Tendered
Total Amount	34046543	33298408	24340976	11391634	32648157	32873496	31734810	16944334	13752839	30766423	6000004
Accepted
Low Yield	2.8	3.2	4.4	5.1	3.3	3.6	3	4.2	4.8	2.9	3.4
Price at Low	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	99.9	0
Yield
Avg/Med	2.9	3.26	4.43	5.15	3.35	3.67	3.01	4.21	4.84	2.98	3.45
Yield
Price at	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	99.9	N/A
Avg/Med
Yield
High Yield	2.97	3.27	4.48	5.17	3.38	3.71	3.06	4.25	4.88	3.04	3.48
Price at High	99.8	100	99.6	97.7	100	99.8	99.9	96.8	100	99.9	99.1
Yield
Allocation %	69.04	6.82	71.82	74.52	53.87	95.37	35.07	11.31	31.06	58.9	91.98
at High Rate
Original Issue	N/A	N/A	N/A	02/15/02	04/30/02	N/A	N/A	11/15/01	02/15/02	N/A	01/15/02
Date
Interest Rate	2.875	3.25	4.375	4.875	3.375	3.625	3	3.5	4.875	3	3.375
1st Int.	12/31/02	11/30/02	11/15/02	8/15/02	10/31/02	9/30/02	8/31/02	5/15/02	8/15/02	7/31/02	7/15/02
Payment
Date
Series	P-2004	N-2004	E-2007	B-2012	M-2004	L-2004	K-2004	F-2006	B-2012	J-2004	A-2012
Standard	14.375	16.25	21.875	24.375	16.875	18.125	15	17.5	24.375	15	N/A
Interest
Payment
July-Dec. 2001
CUSIP	9128277H9	9128277G1	9128277F3	9128277B2	9128277E5	9128277B2	9128277D8	9128277C0	9128276X5	9128277B2	9128277A4	9128276R8
Security Description	2-YR	2-YR	5-YR	9-YR 9-MTH	2-YR	9-YR 10- MTH	2-YR	2-YR	4-YR 9- MTH	10-YR	2-YR	9-YR 6- MTH
Announce Date	12/19/01	11/21/01	10/31/01	10/31/01	10/17/01	10/4/01	9/19/01	8/22/01	8/1/01	8/1/01	7/18/01	7/5/01
Auction Date	12/27/01	11/28/01	11/6/01	11/7/01	10/24/01	10/4/01	9/26/01	8/29/01	8/7/01	8/8/01	7/25/01	7/11/01
Issue Date	12/31/01	11/30/01	11/15/01	11/15/01	10/31/01	10/5/01	10/1/01	8/31/01	8/15/01	8/15/01	7/31/01	7/16/01
Maturity Date	12/31/03	11/30/03	11/15/06	8/15/11	10/31/03	8/15/11	9/30/03	8/31/03	5/15/06	8/15/11	7/31/03	1/15/11
Offering	23	21	16	7	19	6	17	14	11	11	12	5
Amount
Total Amount	61962836	36928640	37671036	15635662	49362755	14175225	46848079	34980539	24249419	32395067	33505862	9505498
Tendered
Total Amount	29666268	26167440	18799456	8591710	25142691	6000038	22666754	18666698	11623510	12043085	16000048	5000004
Accepted
Low Yield	3.2	2.9	3.55	4.135	2.7	4.4	2.79	3.62	4.6	5.03	3.9	3.43
Price at Low	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yield
Avg/Med Yield	3.28	2.96	3.58	4.188	2.74	4.499	2.82	3.65	4.651	5.07	3.94	3.468
Price at	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Avg/Med Yield
High Yield	3.3	3.01	3.62	4.22	2.77	4.52	2.87	3.69	4.67	5.08	3.97	3.5
Price at High	99.9	100	99.5	106	100	104	99.8	99.9	99.8	99.4	99.8	102
Yield
Allocation %	27.52	14.96	93.14	83.52	86.62	53.57	49.03	31.45	95.66	63.72	45.37	86.09
at High Rate
Original Issue	N/A	N/A	N/A	08/15/01	N/A	N/A	08/15/01	N/A	05/15/01	N/A	N/A	01/16/01
Date
Interest Rate	3.25	3	3.5	5	2.75	5	2.75	3.625	4.625	5	3.875	3.5
1st Int.	6/30/02	5/31/02	5/15/02	2/15/02	4/30/02	2/15/02	3/31/02	2/28/02	11/15/01	2/15/02	1/31/02	1/15/02
Payment Date
Series	X-2003	W-2003	F-2006	C-2011	V-2003	C-2011	U-2003	T-2003	E-2006	C-2011	S-2003	A-2011
Standard	16.25	15	17.5	25	13.75	25	13.75	18.125	23.125	25	19.375	N/A
Interest
Payment
Jan.-June 2001
CUSIP	9128276Z0	9128276Y3	9128276X5	9128276T4	9128276W7	9128276V9	9128276U1	9128276N7	9128276T4	9128276S6	9128276R8
Security	2-YR	2-YR	5-YR	9-YR 9- MTH	2-YR	2-YR	2-YR	4-YR 9- MTH	10-YR	2-YR	10-YR
Description
Announce	6/20/01	5/23/01	5/2/01	5/2/01	4/18/01	3/21/01	2/14/01	1/31/01	1/31/01	1/17/01	1/3/01
Date
Auction Date	6/27/01	5/30/01	5/8/01	5/9/01	4/25/01	3/28/01	2/21/01	2/6/01	2/7/01	1/24/01	1/10/01
Issue Date	7/2/01	5/31/01	5/15/01	5/15/01	4/30/01	4/2/01	2/28/01	2/15/01	2/15/01	1/31/01	1/16/01
Maturity Date	6/30/03	5/31/03	5/15/06	2/15/11	4/30/03	3/31/03	2/28/03	11/15/05	2/15/11	1/31/03	1/15/11
Offering	11	10	13	9	10	11	11	11	11	10	6
Amount
Total Amount	28559898	29215422	29541090	25481724	30200534	34376577	29901323	23235682	24031491	31791612	10110181
Tendered
Total Amount	14666746	13333342	16174918	11457320	13335524	14673572	14675223	12278682	11974691	15437052	6000430
Accepted
Low Yield	3.9	4.25	4.614	5.139	4.05	4.24	4.62	4.84	4.99	4.69	3.37
Price at Low	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yield
Avg/Med Yield	3.968	4.305	4.64	5.175	4.1	4.285	4.663	4.88	5.05	4.74	3.47
Price at	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Avg/Med Yield
High Yield	3.99	4.33	4.66	5.19	4.12	4.3	4.69	4.9	5.07	4.76	3.52
Price at High	99.8	99.9	99.8	98.6	99.8	99.9	99.9	104	99.5	100	99.8
Yield
Allocation %	74.43	45.57	14.06	76.13	50	4	78	12	100	1	17
at High Rate
Original Issue	N/A	N/A	N/A	02/15/01	N/A	N/A	N/A	11/15/00	N/A	01/31/01	01/15/01
Date
Interest Rate	3.875	4.25	4.625	5	4	4.25	4.625	5.75	5	4.75	3.5
1st Int.	12/31/01	11/30/01	11/15/01	8/15/01	10/31/01	9/30/01	8/31/01	5/15/01	8/15/01	7/31/01	7/15/01
Payment Date
Series	R-2003	Q-2003	E-2006	B-2011	P-2003	N-2003	M-2003	F-2005	B-2011	L-2003	A-2011
Standard	19.375	21.25	23.125	25	20	21.25	23.125	28.75	25	23.75	N/A
Interest
Payment
July-Dec. 2000
CUSIP	9128276Q0	9128276P2	9128276N7	9128276J6	9128273L4	9128276L1	9128276K3	9128276D9	9128276J6	9128276H0	9128275W8
Security	2-YR	2-YR	5-YR	9-YR 9- MTH	2-YR	2-YR	2-YR	4-YR 9- MTH	10-YR	2-YR	9-YR 6- MTH
Description
Announce	12/20/00	11/22/00	11/1/00	11/1/00	10/18/00	9/20/00	8/16/00	8/2/00	8/2/00	7/19/00	7/5/00
Date
Auction Date	12/27/00	11/29/00	11/7/00	11/8/00	10/25/00	9/27/00	8/23/00	8/8/00	8/9/00	7/26/00	7/12/00
Issue Date	1/2/01	11/30/00	11/15/00	11/15/00	10/31/00	10/2/00	8/31/00	8/15/00	8/15/00	7/31/00	7/17/00
Maturity Date	12/31/02	11/30/02	11/15/05	8/15/10	10/31/02	9/30/02	8/31/02	5/15/05	8/15/10	7/31/02	1/15/10
Offering	10	10	12	8	10	10	10	10	10	10	5
Amount
Total Amount	29927574	36473573	24635175	23104704	31653935	34514975	31978514	33785687	21811212	31358358	11741020
Tendered
Total Amount	14833574	15047553	15804415	10075194	14839335	15184475	15037514	13189107	12356702	15037258	5001620
Accepted
Low Yield	5.06	5.665	5.79	5.8	5.795	5.97	6.14	5.99	5.75	6.21	3.88
Price at Low	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yield
Avg/Med Yield	5.11	5.689	5.83	5.845	5.83	5.995	6.185	6.049	5.8	6.265	3.997
Price at	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Avg/Med Yield
High Yield	5.13	5.7	5.87	5.87	5.85	6	6.2	6.06	5.84	6.28	4.03
Price at High	100	99.9	99.5	99.1	99.8	100	99.9	103	99.3	99.9	104
Yield
Allocation %	47	98	12	30	98	91	37	78	77	58	52
at High Rate
Original Issue	01/02/01	N/A	N/A	08/15/00	10/31/97	N/A	N/A	05/15/00	N/A	N/A	01/18/00
Date
Interest Rate	5.125	5.625	5.75	5.75	5.75	6	6.125	6.75	5.75	6.25	4.25
1st Int.	6/30/01	5/31/01	5/15/01	2/15/01	4/30/01	3/31/01	2/28/01	11/15/00	2/15/01	1/31/01	1/15/01
Payment Date
Series	AD-2002	AC-2002	F-2005	C-2010	N-2002	Z-2002	Y-2002	E-2005	C-2010	X-2002	A-2010
Standard	25.625	28.125	28.75	28.75	28.75	30	30.625	33.75	28.75	31.25	N/A
Interest
Payment
Jan.-June 2000
CUSIP	9128276F4	9128276E7	9128276D9	9128275Z1	9128276C1	9128276B3	9128276A5	9128275S7	9128275Z1	9128275X6	9128275W8
Security	2-YR	2-YR	5-YR	9-YR 9- MTH	2-YR	2-YR	2-YR	4-YR 9- MTH	10-YR	2-YR	10-YR
Description
Announce	6/21/00	5/17/00	5/3/00	5/3/00	4/19/00	3/22/00	2/16/00	2/2/00	2/2/00	1/19/00	1/5/00
Date
Auction Date	6/28/00	5/24/00	5/9/00	5/10/00	4/26/00	3/29/00	2/23/00	2/8/00	2/9/00	1/26/00	1/12/00
Issue Date	6/30/00	5/31/00	5/15/00	5/15/00	5/1/00	3/31/00	2/29/00	2/15/00	2/15/00	1/31/00	1/18/00
Maturity Date	6/30/02	5/31/02	5/15/05	2/15/10	4/30/02	3/31/02	2/28/02	11/15/04	2/15/10	1/31/02	1/15/10
Offering	10	10	12	8	12	12	12	12	10	14	6
Amount
Total Amount	31326386	30049011	27183197	24010987	33051728	36049243	36492496	25052043	16782373	33731087	18740421
Tendered
Total Amount	14310797	14838111	15458197	11075987	17371508	17219611	16527931	14230043	12270123	19346847	6316921
Accepted
Low Yield	6.4	6.7	6.7	6.4	6.4	6.5	6.5	6.7	6.4	6.4	4.2
Price at Low	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yield
Avg/Med Yield	6.47	6.72	6.76	6.45	6.46	6.55	6.57	6.71	6.47	6.42	4.3
Price at	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Avg/Med Yield
High Yield	6.483	6.749	6.789	6.475	6.484	6.58	6.59	6.741	6.54	6.434	4.338
Price at High	99.8	99.772	99.837	100.15	99.798	99.852	99.834	96.505	99.71	99.891	99.298
Yield
Allocation %	67	70	22	26	62	33	18	98	49	28	30
at High Rate
Original Issue	N/A	N/A	N/A	02/15/00	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	11/15/99	N/A	N/A
Date
Interest Rate	6.375	6.625	6.75	6.5	6.375	6.5	6.5	5.875	6.5	6.375	4.25
1st Int.	12/31/00	11/30/00	11/15/00	8/15/00	10/31/00	9/30/00	8/31/00	5/15/00	8/15/00	7/31/00	7/15/00
Payment Date
Series	W-2002	V-2002	E-2005	B-2010	U-2002	T-2002	S-2002	H-2004	B-2010	R-2002	A-2010
Standard	31.875	33.125	33.75	32.5	31.875	32.5	32.5	29.375	32.5	31.875	N/A
Interest
Payment
July-Dec. 1999
	CUSIP	9128272E1	9128272C5	9128275S7	9128275N8	9128275R9	9128275Q1	9128275P3	9128275M0	9128275N8	9128275L2
	Security	2-YR	2-YR	5-YR	9-YR 9- MTH	2-YR	2-YR	2-YR	5-YR	10-YR	2-YR
	Description
	Announce	12/15/99	11/17/99	11/3/99	11/3/99	10/20/99	9/22/99	8/18/99	8/4/99	8/4/99	7/21/99
	Date
	Auction Date	12/22/99	11/23/99	11/9/99	11/10/99	10/27/99	9/29/99	8/25/99	8/10/99	8/11/99	7/28/99
	Issue Date	12/31/99	11/30/99	11/15/99	11/15/99	11/1/99	11/1/99	8/31/99	8/16/99	8/16/99	8/2/99
	Maturity Date	12/31/01	11/30/01	11/15/04	8/15/09	10/31/01	9/30/01	8/31/01	8/15/04	8/15/09	7/31/01
	Offering	15	15	15	10	15	15	15	15	12	15
	Amount
	Total Amount	33634006	41330776	31160228	27494213	44526986	35304183	33094922	30787673	27571198	37701473
	Tendered
	Total Amount	17176006	19445775	18390728	12639913	19187385	18782508	20106327	18070773	14746238	20510933
	Accepted
	Low Yield	6.1	5.9	5.8	5.9	5.9	5.6	5.5	5.9	6	5.5
	Price at Low	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Yield
	Avg/Med Yield	6.21	5.94	5.87	5.99	5.92	5.65	5.53	5.99	6.07	5.52
	Price at	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Avg/Med Yield
	High Yield	6.233	5.946	5.888	6.007	6.007	5.665	5.665	6.014	6.085	5.544
	Price at High	99.8	99.868	99.868	99.927	99.888	99.925	99.893	99.94	99.37	99.917
	Yield
	Allocation %	19	34	90	8	40	58	54	71	58	1
	at High Rate
	Original Issue	12/31/96	12/02/96	N/A	08/16/99	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Date
	Interest Rate	6.125	5.875	5.875	6	5.875	5.625	5.5	6	6	5.5
	1st Int.	6/30/00	5/31/00	5/15/00	2/15/00	4/30/00	3/31/00	2/29/00	2/15/00	2/15/00	1/31/00
	Payment Date
	Series	R-2001	Q-2001	H-2004	H-2004	AE-2001	AD-2001	AC-2001	AC-2001	C-2009	AB-2001
	Standard	30.625	29.375	29.375	30	29.375	28.125	27.5	30	30	27.5
	Interest
	Payment
Jan.-June 1999
CUSIP	9128274Y5	9128275J7	9128275H1	9128275F5	9128275G3	9128275E8	9128275D0	9128275C2	9128275A6	9128274V1	9128274Z2
Security	9-YR 6- MTH	2-YR	2-YR	5-YR	10-YR	2-YR	2-YR	2-YR	5-YR	9-YR 9- MTH	2-YR
Description
Announce	6/30/99	6/16/99	5/19/99	5/5/99	5/5/99	4/21/99	3/17/99	2/17/99	2/3/99	2/3/99	1/20/99
Date
Auction Date	7/7/99	6/23/99	5/26/99	5/11/99	5/12/99	4/28/99	3/24/99	2/24/99	2/9/99	2/10/99	1/27/99
Issue Date	7/15/99	6/30/99	6/1/99	5/17/99	5/17/99	4/30/99	3/31/99	3/1/99	2/16/99	2/16/99	2/1/99
Maturity Date	1/15/09	6/30/01	5/31/01	5/15/04	5/15/09	4/30/01	3/31/01	2/28/01	2/15/04	11/15/08	1/31/01
Offering	7	15	15	15	12	15	15	15	15	10	15
Amount
Total Amount	15096392	29693469	35123892	29987293	22280659	40875026	39664052	31961498	30243315	22043514	36636724
Tendered
Total Amount	7368472	18985769	19869692	18912293	14798359	21027026	21587982	19575998	17815315	11592934	19772324
Accepted
Low Yield	3.9	5.7	5.2	5.3	5.4	4.9	4.9	4.9	4.7	4.8	4.5
Price at Low	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yield
Avg/Med Yield	4	5.73	5.3	5.35	5.47	5	4.97	4.99	4.75	4.88	4.54
Price at	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Avg/Med Yield
High Yield	4.04	5.754	5.315	5.367	5.51	5.017	4.995	5.009	4.767	4.913	4.575
Price at High	100.03	99.993	99.878	99.493	99.923	99.968	99.774	99.983	99.925	98.735	99.858
Yield
Allocation %	88	72	20	75	59	45	20	54	14	11	42
at High Rate
Original Issue	01/15/99	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	11/16/98	N/A
Date
Interest Rate	3.875	5.75	5.25	5.25	5.5	5	4.875	5	4.75	4.75	4.5
1st Int.	1/15/00	12/31/99	11/30/99	11/15/99	11/15/99	10/31/99	9/30/99	8/31/99	8/15/99	5/15/99	7/31/99
Payment Date
Series	A-2009	Z-2001	Y-2001	F-2004	B-2009	X-2001	W-2001	V-2001	E-2004	D-2008	U-2001
Standard	N/A	28.75	26.25	26.25	27.5	25	24.375	25	N/A	23.75	22.5
Interest
Payment
Sept.-Dec. 1998
	CUSIP	9128274Y5	9128274X7	9128274W9	9128274V1	9128274U3	9128274T6	9128273T7
	Security Description	10-YR	2-YR	2-YR	10-YR	5-YR	2-YR	9-YR 3-MTH
	Announce Date	12/30/98	12/23/98	11/18/98	10/28/98	10/28/98	10/21/98	9/29/98
	Auction Date	1/6/99	12/29/98	11/24/98	11/4/98	11/3/98	10/28/98	10/7/98
	Issue Date	1/15/99	12/31/98	11/30/98	11/16/98	11/16/98	11/2/98	10/15/98
	Maturity Date	1/15/09	12/31/00	11/30/00	11/15/08	11/15/03	10/31/00	1/15/08
	Offering Amount	8	15	16	12	16	16	8
	Total Amount Tendered	25476152	42976651	38788545	19741208	31398418	36111960	15744658
	Total Amount Accepted	8530979	19466121	20146545	13485708	18619933	20514660	8400538
	Low Yield	3.9	4.7	4.5	4.6	4.3	3.9	3.3
	Price at Low Yield	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0
	Avg/Med Yield	3.89	4.67	4.6	4.76	4.3	4	3.56
	Price at Avg/Med Yield	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0
	High Yield	3.898	4.69	4.629	4.825	4.34	4.025	3.65
	Price at High Yield	99.811	99.877	99.992	99.41	99.599	99.952	100.87
	Allocation % at High	100	97	60	82	31	69	88
	Rate
	Original Issue Date	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	01/15/98
	Interest Rate	3.875	4.625	4.625	4.75	4.25	4	3.625
	1st Int. Payment Date	7/15/99	6/30/99	5/31/99	5/15/99	5/15/99	4/30/99	1/15/99
	Series	A-2009	AL-2000	AK-2000	D-2008	K-2003	AJ-2000	A-2008
	Standard Interest	N/A	23.125	23.125	23.75	21.25	20	N/A
	Payment

[0054]

APPENDIX 2:
Statistical Results
Short Coupon Trading
2-Year Sector
The REG Procedure
Model: MODEL1
Dependent Variable: SHORT Coupons
Analysis of Variance
			Sum of	Mean
	Source	DF	Squares	Square	F Value	Pr > F
	Model	1	7522801528	7522801528	15.97	0.0002
	Error	67	31565906251	471132929
	Corrected Total	68	39088707779
	Root MSE	21706	R-Square	0.1925
	Dependent Mean	126689	Adj R-Sq	0.1804
	Coeff Var	17.13303
Parameter Estimates
			Parameter
Variable	Label	DF	Estimate	Standard Error	t Value	Pr > |t|
Intercept	Intercept	1	120952	2981.49301	40.57	<.0001
AUC2	2-Year Auction Week	1	24741	6191.53524	4.00	0.0002
17:51 Tuesday, April 1, 2003 1
Auction Effects on Cash Volume
Five-Year Sector
The REG Procedure
Model: MODEL2
Dependent Variable: BANK Range Coupons
Analysis of Variance
			Sum of	Mean
	Source	DF	Squares	Square	F Value	Pr > F
	Model	1	3768601440	3768601440	7.99	0.0062
	Error	67	31610112442	471792723
	Corrected Total	68	35378713883
	Root MSE	21721	R-Square	0.1065
	Dependent Mean	97023	Adj R-Sq	0.0932
	Coeff Var	22.38720
Parameter Estimates
			Parameter
Variable	Label	DF	Estimate	Standard Error	t Value	Pr > |t|
Intercept	Intercept	1	94958	2715.09876	34.97	<.0001
AUC5	5-Year Auction Week	1	28506	10086	2.83	0.0062

Claims

1. A futures contract comprising a way to hedge exposure in when issued securities.

2. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein the futures contract is cash settled.

3. The futures contract of claim 2 further wherein the futures contract settles for cash using the auction results as a reference rate.

4. The futures contract of claim 1 further including a trading unit.

5. The futures contract of claim 4 further wherein the trading unit is the notional value of a yet-to-be issued Treasury note.

6. The futures contract of claim 1 further including a delivery standard.

7. The futures contract of claim 6 further wherein the delivery standard is the auction yield result announced by the Federal Reserve Bank.

8. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein the futures contract is a 2-year note futures contract.

9. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein the futures contract is a 5-year note futures contract.

10. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein the futures contract has a notional value of $1,000,000.

11. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein the futures contract is quoted in yield terms.

12. The futures contract of claim 11 further wherein the yield quote is in basis points.

13. The futures contract of claim 11 further wherein the yield quote is in fractions of basis points.

14. The futures contract of claim 11 further wherein the yield quote is in basis points and fractions of basis points.

15. The futures contract of claim 11 further wherein the dollar value of one basis point for the contract equals $185.83.

16. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein the futures contract is centered at a 6% market rate.

17. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein the futures contract is centered consistent with existing 2-year, 5-year, 10-year and bond contracts that trade on a price and cash delivery basis at the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago.

18. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein twelve consecutive calendar months are available for listing.

19. The futures contract of claim 1 further including a last trading day.

20. The futures contract of claim 19 further wherein the last trading day is the day a Treasury note is auctioned.

21. The futures contract of claim 19 further wherein the last trading day is the day a Treasury note is auctioned, at the same time as the auction takes place.

22. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein the trading will cease at the time auction bids are due at the New York Federal Reserve.

23. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein in the event that the Treasury cancels an announced and scheduled auction, the constant maturity rate published by the Federal Reserve for the scheduled auction day shall serve as the settlement reference rate.

24. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein in the event the Treasury postpones an auction within the delivery month, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the settlement price will remain the auction price.

25. The futures contract of claim 1 further wherein in the event the Treasury postpones an auction so that it falls outside the current (spot) delivery month but does not supplant another scheduled auction, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the auction results will remain will remain the settlement reference rate.

26. The futures contract of claim 1 further including a way to hedge exposure in the auction bidding process

27. A futures contract comprising a way to hedge exposure in the auction bidding process.

28. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein the futures contract is cash settled.

29. The futures contract of claim 28 further wherein the futures contract settles for cash using the auction results as a reference rate.

30. The futures contract of claim 27 further including a trading unit.

31. The futures contract of claim 30 further wherein the trading unit is the notional value of a yet-to-be issued Treasury note.

32. The futures contract of claim 27 further including a delivery standard.

33. The futures contract of claim 33 further wherein the delivery standard is the auction yield result announced by the Federal Reserve Bank.

34. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein the futures contract is a 2-year note futures contract.

35. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein the futures contract is a 5-year note futures contract.

36. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein the futures contract has a notional value of $1,000,000.

37. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein the futures contract is quoted in yield terms.

38. The futures contract of claim 37 further wherein the yield quote is in basis points.

39. The futures contract of claim 37 further wherein the yield quote is in fractions of basis points.

40. The futures contract of claim 37 further wherein the yield quote is in basis points and fractions of basis points.

41. The futures contract of claim 37 further wherein the dollar value of one basis point for the contract equals $185.83.

42. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein the futures contract is centered at a 6% market rate.

43. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein the futures contract is centered consistent with existing 2-year, 5-year, 10-year and bond contracts that trade on a price and cash delivery basis at the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago.

44. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein twelve consecutive calendar months are available for listing.

45. The futures contract of claim 27 further including a last trading day.

46. The futures contract of claim 45 further wherein the last trading day is the day a Treasury note is auctioned.

47. The futures contract of claim 45 further wherein the last trading day is the day a Treasury note is auctioned, at the same time as the auction takes place.

48. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein the trading will cease at the time auction bids are due at the New York Federal Reserve.

49. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein in the event that the Treasury cancels an announced and scheduled auction, the constant maturity rate published by the Federal Reserve for the scheduled auction day shall serve as the settlement reference rate.

50. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein in the event the Treasury postpones an auction within the delivery month, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the settlement price will remain the auction price.

51. The futures contract of claim 27 further wherein in the event the Treasury postpones an auction so that it falls outside the current (spot) delivery month but does not supplant another scheduled auction, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the auction results will remain will remain the settlement reference rate.

52. The futures contract of claim 27 further including a way to hedge exposure in when issued securities.

53. A commodities market comprising a futures contract in when issued securities that settle for cash at the auction yield.

54. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract is cash settled.

55. The commodities market of claim 54 further wherein the futures contract settles for cash using the auction results as a reference rate.

56. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract includes a trading unit.

57. The commodities market of claim 56 further wherein the trading unit is the notional value of a yet-to-be issued Treasury note.

58. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract includes a delivery standard.

59. The commodities market of claim 58 further wherein the delivery standard is the auction yield result announced by the Federal Reserve Bank.

60. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract is a 2-year note futures contract.

61. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract is a 5-year note futures contract.

62. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract has a notional value of $1,000,000.

63. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract is quoted in yield terms.

64. The commodities market of claim 63 further wherein the yield quote is in basis points.

65. The commodities market of claim 63 further wherein the yield quote is in fractions of basis points.

66. The commodities market of claim 63 further wherein the yield quote is in basis points and fractions of basis points.

67. The commodities market of claim 63 further wherein the dollar value of one basis point for the contract equals $185.83.

68. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract is centered at a 6% market rate.

69. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract is centered consistent with existing 2-year, 5-year, 10-year and bond contracts that trade on a price and cash delivery basis at the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago.

70. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein twelve consecutive calendar months are available for listing.

71. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the futures contract includes a last trading day.

72. The commodities market of claim 71 further wherein the last trading day is the day a Treasury note is auctioned.

73. The commodities market of claim 71 further wherein the last trading day is the day a Treasury note is auctioned, at the same time as the auction takes place.

74. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein the trading in the futures contract will cease at the time auction bids are due at the New York Federal Reserve.

75. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein in the event that the Treasury cancels an announced and scheduled auction, the constant maturity rate published by the Federal Reserve for the scheduled auction day shall serve as the settlement reference rate.

76. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein in the event the Treasury postpones an auction within the delivery month, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the settlement price will remain the auction price.

77. The commodities market of claim 53 further wherein in the event the Treasury postpones an auction so that it falls outside the current (spot) delivery month but does not supplant another scheduled auction, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the auction results will remain will remain the settlement reference rate.

78. A futures contract comprising carrying positions through the auction bidding process to capture spreads that develop between cash when issued markets and auction results.

79. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein the futures contract is cash settled.

80. The futures contract of claim 80 further wherein the futures contract settles for cash using the auction results as a reference rate.

81. The futures contract of claim 78 further including a trading unit.

82. The futures contract of claim 81 further wherein the trading unit is the notional value of a yet-to-be issued Treasury note.

83. The futures contract of claim 78 further including a delivery standard.

84. The futures contract of claim 83 further wherein the delivery standard is the auction yield result announced by the Federal Reserve Bank.

85. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein the futures contract is a 2-year note futures contract.

86. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein the futures contract is a 5-year note futures contract.

87. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein the futures contract has a notional value of $1,000,000.

88. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein the futures contract is quoted in yield terms.

89. The futures contract of claim 88 further wherein the yield quote is in basis points.

90. The futures contract of claim 88 further wherein the yield quote is in fractions of basis points.

91. The futures contract of claim 88 further wherein the yield quote is in basis points and fractions of basis points.

92. The futures contract of claim 88 further wherein the dollar value of one basis point for the contract equals $185.83.

93. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein the futures contract is centered at a 6% market rate.

94. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein the futures contract is centered consistent with existing 2-year, 5-year, 10-year and bond contracts that trade on a price and cash delivery basis at the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago.

95. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein twelve consecutive calendar months are available for listing.

96. The futures contract of claim 78 further including a last trading day.

97. The futures contract of claim 96 further wherein the last trading day is the day a Treasury note is auctioned.

98. The futures contract of claim 96 further wherein the last trading day is the day a Treasury note is auctioned, at the same time as the auction takes place.

99. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein the trading will cease at the time auction bids are due at the New York Federal Reserve.

100. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein in the event that the Treasury cancels an announced and scheduled auction, the constant maturity rate published by the Federal Reserve for the scheduled auction day shall serve as the settlement reference rate.

101. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein in the event the Treasury postpones an auction within the delivery month, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the settlement price will remain the auction price.

102. The futures contract of claim 78 further wherein in the event the Treasury postpones an auction so that it falls outside the current (spot) delivery month but does not supplant another scheduled auction, the last trading day will remain the actual auction day and the auction results will remain will remain the settlement reference rate.

103. The futures contract of claim 78 further including a way to hedge exposure in when issued securities.