Library Services: Moorgate Library Services: Moorgate LibraryLibrary

Datastream Datastream

What is Datastream?What is Datastream?

A major source of current and A major source of current and historical online data on:historical online data on:

financial markets, financial markets, economic indicators economic indicators company information (limited company information (limited

availability)availability)

When should I use Datastream?When should I use Datastream?

Economics: Bonds Bond Indices Equities Equity Indices Investment Trusts/Unit Trusts Interest rates Exchange rates Commodities, Options and

Derivatives

Accessing and Booking itAccessing and Booking it From two PCs, on the training desk or

theone closest to it.

Booking: Go to the library catalogue:

http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/ Type: Datastream and click Search Click on ‘Book short loan item' Enter your University network

username and password and click Submit

Use the calendar to make an appointment to use it.

Login to the Datastream PC and click on the Datastream Advance 5.0 icon on the desktop

DataStream CategoriesDataStream Categories

Datatype: There are 58 different types but should normally be set to DEFAULT

Date settings: You can search as far back as the data you require is available on datastream, or between 3 months and 20 years, or for a specific time period

Analysis types: Overview, Chart, Report, Comparison, Single or Multiple Time Series

Default Settings Default Settings

The default settings are;

Equities,

Overview of Company Performance, Single Series

Datatype is Price adjusted and the information displayed is for one year only. These will need to be changed if you wish to use a different type of search.

Types Of SearchTypes Of Search

From Data Category (top left-hand corner) select the type of search (equities, economics, etc.)

Select the type of series (multiple, single, etc.) from Analysis (bottom left-hand corner)

Change the datatype or ensure it is set to DEFAULT (upper-middle, second box)

Types Of SearchTypes Of Search

Change the time period if required or leave on base (upper-right)

Change the currency or set to local currency (middle-right)

Type the name of data you require (e.g. Pearson if an equity; Crude Oil if a commodity) using the Enter Series search box, (upper-middle, first one) and click Search

The term you used will appear in a new window (the Navigator), probably more than once

Navigator Screen: Equity Navigator Screen: Equity Search For PearsonSearch For Pearson

ExampleExample

Maximise this window and click on the option with the most Yeses, also relating to the market (country) and currency required, preferably with no brackets after the title

If there are too many results, click on Set criteria (top-left of Navigator window) to enter more options to narrow your search (e.g. by market, currency, exchange).

Then click on the matching name from the Navigator window list, as above

ExampleExample

You are now back to the main Datastream window where you can click on the Settings button (top right-hand corner) to select the frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually). N.B. this cannot be used with Overview of company performance as this is only available for 1 year

Next click on Run Now! button (middle, right-

hand corner)

Your data will be displayed in the results screen (lower-middle)

Results Screen - defaultResults Screen - default

Results Screen – time seriesResults Screen – time series

Results Screen- ChartResults Screen- Chart

Printing, Emailing & Saving Printing, Emailing & Saving

Data in the results screen can be exported into an Excel spreadsheet by clicking on the small green X (for Excel) icon on the main menu bar

The Excel spreadsheet can then be saved and emailed to you or saved to your memory stick

If you wish to print the results, go to File on the main menu bar and select print

Getting more helpGetting more help

Within Datastream from the top menu bar choose Help to see an online tutorial.