In an automated exchange system, the deterministic matching is
supplemented with a non-deterministic trade agent service. The agent
server is preferably run in accordance with a best-effort principle,
thereby making it possible to design at low cost. The agent trade server
is designed to provide users with functionality deemed not to be
necessary to implement in the deterministic core of the matching system
or deemed to be to expensive to implement therein. The agent trade server
then feeds the deterministic core of the matching system with trade input
data resulting from the input received for the users of the automated
trading system. Thus, the designer of a complex trading system is given
an option to provide centrally located functionality to the users of the
system without having to change the deterministic core of the matching
system. Since the agent trade server is working closely to the
deterministic core of the trading system, it is preferred to co-locate
the agent trade server with the core of the matching system.