Datastream. Introduction manual

Transcription

1 Datastream Introduction manual Version: Content 1 Overview Setting up a request... 2 Example 1: Extract prices for one series... 5 Example 2: Extract prices for two different currencies Choosing equities datatypes... 9 Example 3: Extract and analyze different datatypes Working with lists Example 4: Extract constituent equities of an index Example 5: Create own list

2 1 Overview Datastream is one of the biggest financial databases. It is provided by Thomson Reuters Financial. Data is available for a broad spectrum of financial market data, company fundamental data, financial ratios, exchange rates, interest rates, economic and forecast data, etc. To extract data from datastream, students can use two computers inside the WiWi-Building. First the computer in the library and second the computer in room 3.09 on the third floor. Username: Keyword: Datastream data7 This manual gives a short instruction of how to use the Datastream Add-In in Excel. The purpose of these notes is to show by example how most standard queries can be performed. First, this manual shows how to set up a basic request, followed by an introduction for additional tools and datatypes. Finally, this manual shows how to work with lists, which might be useful for downloading large amounts of similar data or in case of working with a repeating set of companies. Note: If Datastream Add-In is not activated open the Excel options and activate the Advance Office 2007 Add-In (for more information see Datastream - Case study). 2 Setting up a request To set up a request via the Add-In, you have to open Excel and click on the Datastream tab first. Figure 1: Selecting the Datastream Add-In There you will find some items for the two different kinds of requests: Time series request: Download data for one or more companies over a certain time period. Static request: Download data for one or more companies on a specific date. Each request consists of four steps: 2

3 Figure 2: The time series request interface 1. Specify series or list: Select all series for which information is needed, either by searching with the Datastream-navigator, using a predefined list, selecting a series from an Excel sheet or via typing the exact mnemonic. If you checkmark the box Display Data as MSChart Datastream plots the time series Using TS for each item in list Datastream returns the values. 2. Specify datatype: Select the kind of information, which is needed, either by searching with the Datastream Navigator, by selecting datatypes from an Excel sheet or by typing the exact mnemonic. 3. Specify time period and frequency: Select the time period for which information is needed. Either by using a fixed date: with the format dd/mm/yy a relative time period: with days(d), weeks(w), months(m), quarters(q) or years(y), for example -4Y is for the last four years, or by the drop down menu to choose Base Date, Start of the Week, Start of the Month, Start of the Quarter or Start of the Year. Note: If the End Date field is left blank, Datastream retrieves the latest value. 3

4 4. Set options: Determine how the data is displayed and further options. Display Custom Header (time series): Enables you to define what you would like to have in the headings for each column by selecting the appropriate datatype. (Not necessary for a standard request) Display Row Titles: Displays the series codes at the top of each row for each series. (Recommended for a standard request) Display Column Titles: Displays the datatype mnemonic at the top of each column. (Recommended for a standard request) Display Headings: Displays a general heading for row and column titles. For example the date of the request. (Recommended for a standard request) Transpose Data: Displays individual time series data row-wise instead of column-wise. (Due to individual user s interests) Display Code: Displays the Thomson One Code. (Not necessary for a standard request) Display Currency: Displays an additional column titled Currency containing the traded currency of each selected series. (Recommended for a standard request) Display Latest Value First: Sorts elements in a chronological ascending order. (Due to individual user s interests) Hyperlink to Series Metadata: Sets the mnemonic as a Hyperlink to retrieve more information. (Recommended for a standard request) Embed: Ensures that the request is embedded in Excel as a dynamic, refreshable object when saved. If you do not select this option the results of the request cannot be refreshed and remain as plain text/numbers. (Recommended for a standard request) Auto refresh: Refreshes the request automatically when the Excel workbook is opened. (Not recommended for a standard request) Visible Button: Shows a request button in the left upper corner to update the request easily. (Recommended for a standard request) Sometimes it is useful to get series in a common currency, like the euro. This can be specified in the request interface by using the $-Symbol. If the Datatypes/Expressions field is left blank use a tilde (~) and the currency code behind the mnemonic. To illustrate how to send a request, two examples are shown below. The first one to download a single series and the second one to work with exchange rates. 4

5 Example 1: Extract prices for one series Extracting (adjusted)prices of General Electric for the last 30 years on a daily basis. First click on the Time Series Request item in the Datastream Add-In. The Time Series Request Interface as shown above is opened. Open the Datastream Navigator via the Find Series button and type General Electric in the empty field and click Search. Select the General Electric share by clicking on the mnemonic U:GE or via checking the box to the left and confirming with Use. Figure 3: Using the Datastream navigator You find the mnemonic directly exported to the Series/Lists field. Fill in the other fields and boxes as shown below. Datastream uses adjusted Prices if the field Datatypes/Expressions is left blank. Now submit the search. 5

6 Figure 4: Using the time series request interface Example 2: Extract prices for two different currencies Extracting the Prices of Brent Oil per barrel and Gold per troy ounce for the last 10 years in Euro and US-Dollar on a daily basis. First open a new Spreadsheet and then click on the Find Series button in a new time series request window. Choose the data category Commodities and click on the Advanced Search button. Choose other as shown below. For the different data categories there are different options to set. To keep this introduction brief, not all of these options will be explained, indeed most of them are selfexplanatory. 6

7 Figure 5: Advanced search with the Datastream navigator Figure 6 shows the results of the Datastream navigator. Note that so-called primary series are represented in boldface. If you need more information of a result, open Classifications and Metadata. By clicking on the mnemonic select Crude Oil-Brent Dated FOB U$/BBL, then search for Gold or type the mnemonic directly into the Series/Lists field, separated by comma. 7

8 Figure 6: Getting more information on series To get both series in Euro and US-Dollar, you have to write every mnemonic twice. First to get the commodity in its original currency (in this case US-Dollar) and then adding ~E to get them in Euro instead of US-Dollar. Figure 7: Manual correcting for currency Then submit the request. Excel shows the following results: Figure 8: Results shown in Excel 8

9 3 Choosing equities datatypes Datastream provides several datatypes for each data category. Especially for equities a huge variety of datatypes is available. To prevent confusion, Datastream offers explanations for every datatype by clicking on the item on the left. Here you find information about the measurement of the datatype. Figure 9: Getting more information on datatypes In some cases you have to be very careful choosing the right datatype. The datatype you select should be the most suitable for the problem in hand. For example adjusted prices take into account corporate actions (e.g. stock splits), but not dividends. Example 3: Extract and analyze different datatypes Let us make an example to cover this issue. Evaluate the evolution of prices and returns of General Electric. Go back to the first Excel Spreadsheet containing the Prices of General Electric. In the right upper corner you find a Refresh button. A right click on the button and selecting Editor allows you to edit your first request. Choose for datatypes: Unadjusted Price (UP),Adjusted Price (P),Price Index (PI),Return Index (RI),Adjustment Factor (AF),Number of Shares (NOSH),Dividend Type (DT) and Ex Dividend Date of the Dividend (XDDE). Figure 10: Evaluate datatypes Corporate actions (stock splits): 9

10 On the we see a 3 for 1 stock split. The unadjusted price decreases from the to the by approximately two thirds and the number of shares outstanding and the adjustment factor increase by 200% each. Hence adjusted prices are adjusted for stock splits. Dividends: On the is the day, the stock is traded without the right of a dividend payment. On the one hand you can see that prices and the price index decrease in Datastream, because they grow with the capital growth rate, i.e. the return net of dividends. On the other hand the total return index increases, because the performance includes dividend payments. Hence adjusted prices are not adjusted for dividends. Take care of using the right datatypes to prevent biases. To measure the performance of a stock you should use the total return index instead of adjusted prices. 4 Working with lists A list contains the mnemonics of a pre-defined sample of series. Using a list might be useful to download large amounts of similar data or in case of working with a repeating set of companies. There are two ways working with a list, using a pre-defined Datastream-list or creating your own list. This manual shows both options in a brief way. Example 4: Extract constituent equities of an index Get names and latest market values for all companies listed in the Stoxx Europe 600. Open a static request in a new Excel spreadsheet and search by Find Series for the Stoxx Europe 600 E(DJSTOXX) and select the index by clicking on the mnemonic code. To get the constituent list of an index type an L ahead of the mnemonic (in this case LDJSTOXX) and select all 600 constituent equities of the Stoxx Europe 600 E. Choose datatypes NAME and MV and for the date Latest Value. Figure 11: Working with a predefined Datastream list 10

11 Example 5: Create own list Create a list of all major and primary quoted companies of the German stock market. First you have to search via Advanced Search all series you are interested in (i.e. select Germany in the field Market). The fastest way is to export the results directly to Excel using the button in the upper right corner. Afterwards save and open the Excel file. Figure 12: Saving all results in Excel Then use the Create List(From Range) button from the Datastream Add-In and select the mnemonics of all series Change Selection. Choose a list description and a file name ending with.llt. To work with the list make a new time series request and select the list via the button below the Find Series button and browse for the list description. Figure 13: Selecting an own list This example is part of the example in the Datastream Case study, where it is explained step-by-step. 11