Microsoft creates software to track stock markets

Microsoft Corp. has developed a financial program designed to help investors track stock markets.

Microsoft will offer a test version of the program through the Web site of partner Zignals, a Dublin, Ireland-based online finance firm. The site uses Microsoft's Solver Foundation technology, which detects patterns in large amounts of fluctuating data.

The software helps users analyze patterns and build trading strategies, competing with similar programs used by investment banks. The Zignals software eventually may be linked to Microsoft's MSN Web site to help drive traffic, said David Harnett, a senior director at Microsoft.

The site is a "natural partner" to sites such as E-Trade Financial Corp., Zignals Chief Executive Pat Brazel said in an interview. Microsoft owns 15 percent of Zignals, an investment made as part of its IP Ventures program.

Microsoft may use the Web site to showcase its Silverlight technology, Enderle Group President Rob Enderle said before Wednesday's announcement. Silverlight, the software company's answer to Adobe Systems Inc.'s Flash display software, will be used to render interactive graphs and charts.