Robust content-based financial data processing is enabled by software with a customizable knowledge base. The software indexes a publicly or privately available financial database based on the content of the database records. Utilizing proprietary information contained within a knowledge base, the software enables users to search the indexed database by feature, example firm, or pattern. The information contained in the knowledge base enables results to be ranked by relevance. Moreover, users provide feedback about search results to enhance the knowledge base. Software analyzes data by using adaptive signal processing to remove market trends or noise and enable complicated market research.