An automated system that is used at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to check public information and compare it with trading data so that possible trading irregularities are uncovered. This system helps identify irregular affiliations that might be attributed to possible foul play or insider trading. The system processes public data on almost 500,000 executives and 75,000 companies and subsidiaries. For example, automated search and match (ASAM) researches and crosses reference publicly available information on trading data of individuals and entities with respect to a particular trade or transaction in order to identify possible implicit affiliations and links.