Reuters 3000 Xtra

Reuters 3000 Xtra is an electronic trading platform typically used by professional traders and financial analysts in trading rooms. It provides real-time market data such as price data on exchange traded stocks, warrants, options, futures, indices, bonds, commodities and currencies as well streaming news and comprehensive economic indicators and 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 connects to the Reuters servers over a dedicated link via a one of the proprietary feed servers, such as Reuters Market Data System (RMDS) or Triarch. One of the early attractions for dealers was the integration with Microsoft Excel and the instant messaging facility for sending messages to other dealing desks.

It went on to become the de facto platform on traders desks in banks and financial institutions due to the breadth of the information available despite the significant cost and dedicated infrastructure that is required. Its main rival was the Bloomberg Terminal although both systems were often put side by side on traders desks.