Conference nyoss1::market_investing

The ones I've come across so far include:

	Dow Jones service
	Compuserve
	Prodigy

Any experience with these?

> What companies exist that provide dial up capabilities to get automatic feeds
> of stocks that one would like to track?
    
    The ones listed in .1 aren't going in the right direction, methinks.
    What you ought to be getting is a raw-data service that downloads the
    prices more or less automatically into a database you can access with
    software that you write or purchase.
    
    I don't know where you are located, but if it is fairly near to a large
    USA metro area then you should seriously consider getting Signal
    End-of-Day service, which runs (I *think*) $55/month.  It comes with
    software that allows you to capture end-of-day prices into a 1-2-3
    spreadsheet, thence exportable to whatever data format you like.
    Call Data Broadcasting Corporation at 1-800-SMARKET for the full pitch.
    Oh, yeah, there's a $495 charge for the receiver.
    
    Since I don't live in such an area I have to rely on a dial-up service.
    There are many of these.  The one I use is CSI (1-800-327-0175) which
    costs on the order of $40/month.  Their software calls their computer,
    fetches the data and inserts it in a "database" quickly and easily.
    I haven't tried to extract the data yet, being satisfied with their
    fairly simple charts.  Another company is Technical Tools, 1-800-231-8005
    and if you look thru _Barron's_ you'll find others.  Good luck.
    
      John

Thanks, but $40-$55/month is more than I care to put out.  

Many new services like this are coming around, complete with PC software, 
and on-line database access.  Most offer low cost or free 1st time 
connections.  

DOW can be reached at 800-522-3567, their software is called Dow jones news 
retrieval.  They also offer something called Spreadsheet link.

I've also found:  FOX from Fidelty, which offers both trading and stock 
analysis, 1-800-544-7272.

Telechart ($29 package) 800-776-4940 competes with Dial/data.

Signal 800-367-4670. no charting though...

	JAG Notes....  Is this an On-Line service?  I've noticed that
	they seem to have the jump over many other services when a
	stocks been reviewed/appraised by the various Wall St Gurus.

	How can I learn more about Jag Notes?

    
    I have a similar need to those addressed in .0; however, I may be
    reading it wrong and maybe the thought in this reply has already
    been addressed.
    
    I've an assignment where I have to go back for the last 50-60 weeks
    and find out what the week's closing and week's volume was for
    a certain stock (Wal-Mart in this case).  I need a way of getting
    access to some database that contains this information that can be
    downloaded and loaded into a spreadsheet.  My other option is to go
    to the library and look at the Barron's for the past 50-60 weeks! --
    this is extremely painful.  Will any of the news retrieval services
    described in the previous notes give me this?
    
    If this is true, I notice that the prices are a little steep for
    my purposes.  I would only use it once it a while.  If someone sub-
    scribed to a service like this, would they be willing to give me some
    data? -- I would pay whatever phone charge or fee involved.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Dennis

>    and find out what the week's closing and week's volume was for
>    a certain stock (Wal-Mart in this case).  I need a way of getting
>    access to some database that contains this information that can be
>    downloaded and loaded into a spreadsheet.  
    
    CSI (in .1) will provide you with daily stock data for on the order
    of $35; I don't know if they deal in weekly data.  You get a floppy
    in the mail.  I -think- you can ask for ASCII format, otherwise you'll
    get it in a compressed format and would have to buy their software to
    convert compressed -> ASCII.
    
      John

Those of you who read Barron's may have seen those advertisements
for Worden Brothers.  They've been advertising a technical analysis
program for $29, with data downloading from a toll-free database
for 1/2 cent/stock/day.  They offered a 30 day money back guarentee,
so I gave it a shot.  

I am very impressed and pleased with "TeleChart 2000."

The package came with a brief user's manual, a few articles about
reading the indicators, a couple disks, and a $15 data-access credit.
I installed the software quickly (less than 5 minutes).  The database 
is preloaded with historical data for several companies (Apple, AmGen, 
Boeing, Microsoft, Zenith, and a couple others) and with the DJ-30 
index.  The data is up to August 1992, so you immediately incur some
charges updating these issues.  

The deal is that you are charged $0.69 for any download worth less,
so there is incentive to call weekly or less if you only track a few
stocks.  Additionally, when you add a new stock, you *must* load at 
least 250 days of historical data.  The only nit I have here is that
you can't load new stocks until you've updated all your own stocks.
Not really a problem, just an inconvenience.  Worden offers volume
discounts for making large contributions to your download account
fund, especially for the first deposit.  I'm still working off the
discount funds after making a modest first time deposit.

There are approximately 250 trading days in a year, so loading a year's
worth of data costs about $1.25.  Old data from 500 days back, if
available, costs .0025/stock/day.  

Data is loaded at 1200, 2400, or 9600 via toll free 800 number.  I have
never had difficulty attaching and receiving data, even a couple
weeks ago after the "Day After President's Day Massacre."  The lines are
up at all times except from 4:00-6:00PM when the database is being
updated.  I typically connect on the first or second call.

There is a toll-call bbs that you can access to obtain various 
freebies (like pif's for windows, the latest beta test version of
the charting software, etc).  I used this service to get the beta 
version of the new charting software because it had logarithmic scaling
and I prefer that for keeping things looking sane.

The charting software itself is really good.  It plots a standard bar
price graph, and then allows you to draw technical indicators on the
bar chart itself, or on the graph which parallels it below.  You can
combine indicators and oscillators in various ways and save these 
configurations into modules so you can apply them to other stocks later.
There is a pointer available that you can move with the arrow keys
for scrolling through a chart.

Many types of indicators and oscillators are available.  To name a few:
Moving average, stochastics, time-segmented value, momentum, envelope
channels, volume.  You can draw these in different colors, and combine
them on the same graph to make things easier to analyze.  I use a 
pair of envelope channels, a single moving average, 2 stochastics,
and a time segmented value in a module I call "BUYSELL."   This module
has proved itself useful in detecting overbought and oversold 
conditions.  While I'm still refining the values for the indicators,
the module currently does an awesome job of catching the extreme 
overbought and oversold conditions.  Those of you with more proficiency
and experience with technical analysis will undoubtedly be able to
create more interesting modules.

Whenever you download, you get something with your quotes called
the "Worden Report."  You access this from within the charting software.
This is usually a few comments about the current market, along with
recommendations about stocks doing interesting things.  Of greater
importance, in my opinion, are updates about ticker symbols that have
changed. 

A couple weeks after I bought TC2000, I received a newsletter from
Worden.  It discussed their outlook for this year, talked about the
charts from several different sectors, and plugged a book about
technical analysis.  I found it interesting reading, but I do not 
know if they intend to write regularly, or if this was just creative
advertising.  I'll probably buy the book, so you be the judge... :-)

I found the database of available stocks to be a subset of the stocks
listed on the NYSE, AmEx, ASE, and OTC.  In particular, I found many
of the smaller, more volatile (and technically more interesting!)
issues missing.  When I called Worden on this, they indicated that a
larger database, tracking anything that trades on a US Exchange, was
to be online soon.  I haven't checked them on this yet, but I have
no reason to doubt their word.  In addition to to the individual stocks,
Worden also has daily quotes and historical data for many indices, 
including the DJ30 (mandatory for their analysis algorithms), S&P500,
interest rates, computer stocks, and several others.

I phoned their tech support line with a question regarding the 
composition of one of the indices.  The person answering the phone
was helpful and friendly.  While he couldn't answer the question
immediately, I was called back by an expert within an hour of my
call.  He had the exact data I wanted, and was more than happy
to spend 10 minutes talking about it.  

Data import/export is available.  You can export data (ticker, price,
daily high, low, and volume) in ASCII format at any time.  There are
obvious implications here for spreadsheet users.  Data import is more
restricted and is only allowed before loading new stocks into your
database.  I didn't have the opportunity to use this feature as I
had no existing database.

The software also has a chart printing module, which I have not
yet exercised yet (my printer is broken...).  It presumes that your
printer speaks Epson correspondence set.

The file format used for some of the files (if you want to roll
your own access into your local database) is documented, and a small
program listing (in BASIC :-( ) is provided for the technologically
adventurous.  I had no trouble hacking up code to read the file
format for my own "program trading" experiments.

I'm an amatuer investor, and a neophyte trader, so I cannot compare
and contrast this software to other packages and services.  I can tell
you that this was by far the most cost effective solution I've seen
yet for folks interested in receiving daily quotations and updates.
The software simply works, and without too much trouble.  I figure that
I can track all the stocks I want/need to track (after initial historical
download costs) for about $12-$15 month.  Our friends from Signal want
several hundred dollars for the hardware and software, and minimally
$500-$700 year for the most basic service. I get a tremendous amount of
technical information from the indicators and oscillators and will 
probably not "max out" this package for several months.

All in all, I'd consider this to be great value for the money.

./chris

    RE:-1 , Chris, thanks for the info on Telechart 2000.  It sounds like 
    a nice product.
    
    This might be just what I am looking for, but I'm not sure.  I am
    looking for a package that will allow me to scan for all stocks with
    a P/E of 13 or less, or with a dividend yield of 3.5% or more, or maybe
    a list that meets both criteria.  Once I get a look at that list then
    I like to select a few stocks for further analysis like, last five
    years earnings per share, Hi-Lo share price over each of the 5 years,
    growth rate vs. P/E, analysts projections, etc.
    
    As you can see I'm not interested in the closing price of the stock on
    everyday for the last year or everyday in the future.  So I am not sure
    that some of these services make sense for me.
    
    I am looking for a historical database that will let me do some
    "screens" for certain attributes.
    
    Any suggestions ?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Don

re:  .9

Sounds likes what you're looking for is Value Line Software.

Caveat:  I've only read the adverts, so can't say as I have
any experience with this stuff.

The ads claim to provide a wealth of fundamental data on something
like 1700 different companies, along with a screening program to 
sift/search based on a substantial number of factors.  This might
be what you're looking for.

Downside information:  wicked expensive.   THe trial/introduction
package is affordable, but Value Line (the paper kind...) tends
to be pricey.  I'd expect the same from their software.

./chris

    Does anyone have any experience with the recently advertised (in
    Barrons) Value Line pc software/diskette you can try for $49 for two months?
    
    It sounds like you get data and some search/analysis(?) tools.
    
    Thanks,
    Tony
    
    

    Yes, I did try it about a year ago and found it of limited
    value. First of all, the securities are limited to what Value line 
    selected rather than the entire spectrum of
    the market. Secondly, updating every month is relatively un-timely.
    By the time you get the update the action is over. 
    Thirdly, the price is not cheap. You can get the same
    information weekly by visiting your local library for Value line report. 
    And Lastly the software is realtively primintive compares to other
    programs. If doing computer analysis is a necessity for you
    to make investment decisions, you may want to take a look of Strategy
    Investor in the Prodigy which is updated weekly and only for
    $14.95/month. 

	Any experience with Reality's Smart Investor Network by Money
	Magazine? I have an ad from Fortune that compares this very favorably
	- pricewise - with DJ, Telemet, Signal, etc. 

	The ad does not give enough details about the historical data it
	provides, but it does give 15 minute delayed quotes as well as 
	claims that it enables graphing, sorting, etc. according to any
	criterion. 

	The cost is $50 for the software and $18 per month charge. For most
	areas, the calls are local. First month is free. 

    But do you get the raw data to munch with your own software?
    
      John

	Re. .14

	Well, just got off the call with Reality. 

	Basically, you don't get historical data in table form, only charts
	for 52 weeks and 100-days upto present. 

	Also, there is a limit of 4000 quotes per month (which most of us
	are unlikely to exceed). 

	You also get S&P reports on the Willshire 5000 as well as about 6000
	bonds. 

	It also lets you trade via PCFN (owned by Donaldson, Lufkin, and
	Jenrette, BTW). No on-line info on commission schedule. 

	The software is either DOS :-( or MAC based, with Windows version 
	coming out the middle of next year. 

	I'm going to give it a try for the first month. 

I've been using Smart Investor since March '93.  I like it mostly because
I was (am) a total novice and wanted to watch and learn.

SI allows you to specify the symbols you want updated, create multiple 
portfolios (real and modeled), screen stocks, bonds, and mutual funds,
down load selected news articles on investing, and keep track of 
investment history.  The historical data is interesting, but I haven't 
used it much.

I've recently upgraded to WealthBuilder, which steps you through goal
setting, risk profile, and investment strategy, including preparing a
purchase plan.

Over all it's been a good learning tool, and is becoming a good investment
tool as well, especially the modeled portfolios.

    I finally bit and ordered Super Charts 2.1 from Omega Software. For
    $249 (ouch!).  But this was a 'deal' because I'm also a Telescan user I
    get some nifty Video Tapes on how to use SC 2.1, etc. plus a ticket to
    a free seminar.  This version also includes the 'Intelligent Analysis'
    add-on which basically pop's up a text box and explains what's
    happening to a stock at any point on the graph using 'fuzzy logic'.
    This is suppossedly an extra $. (We'll see! 30 day guarantee)
    
    I'm really happy with Telescan for data, which includes Reuters + S&P etc. 
    For $45/month with unlimited quotes, off-peak queries, no-limit downloads
    etc. I think it can't be beat.  Telescan also has a very good User
    group on AOL which is monitored by Telescan and they really support it.
    Which brings up the bad side of Omega - they also have a User Group on
    AOL and support isn't that great considering the questions and flames
    posted there...but they sold over 70,000 SC 2.1s @ $249 a pop so I
    figure the vast majority are happy Users. (2.1 is now up to 2.1f )
    SC 2.1 was also 2d place to Equis Metastock in the latest TAofS&C
    magazine. But Metastock is DOS and established for quite a while so I
    think the way to bet is on SC 2.1
    So I'll keep you all informed. The sw should arrive in 3 to 5 working
    days (ordered it Monday night). I figure it'll take a few weeks to
    really understand it.  It has a built-in downloader all ready for
    Telescan so getting the data should be easy. (SC 2.1 also has a
    built-in downloader for Dial Data)
    
    I cancelled Reuters (nee WealthBuilder) as it was useless and way too
    expensive. I looked at WOW but it only got an honorable mention in
    TAofS&C 'zine. Telescan has a beta Windows version starting this week
    and should be available early summer '95.

    Well it came in yesterday and was very simple to install - 4 floppies,
    3 video tapes, 2 manuals.
    I had very little time last night to do much more than to get about
    half-way through the tutorial but so far I'm very impressed.  Going for
    broke I decided to download updates to the 30 or so stocks already
    included.  The Data Downloader is very simple - if you have Dial or
    Telescan it walks you through the set up, asks for your passwords etc.
    and even provides a list of local phone numbers to connect to, a list
    of modems etc. Takes just a second. However, when I connected to
    Telescan a screen came up which said my Telescan account was not
    enabled for Omega downloads and gave a 800 phone # to call at Telescan
    to have the account enabled for Omega downloads. Which I did. I have
    more time to play tonight.
    But the manual(s), especially the 'getting started' manual is very well
    written - actually too basic, but very clear. And the tutorial was very
    good - used both stocks and futures screens.

    How has your experience been with SC 2.1 and the new data feeds.
    
    Would you recommend the package to someone interested in Technical
    analysis from a SOFTWARE Standpoint and would you recommend the
    software as a money making tool (there is quite a difference between
    the two for certain software tools). 
    
    Please comment.
    
    Ken 

    SC 2.1 is a very good TA tool.  Many, many functions, ease of use, 
    built-in indicators etc.  It will download many stocks very efficiently
    and also fundamental data.
    
    It is not a money making tool in that it isn't a black box. If you want
    to develop your own indicators and apply them to many stocks and set
    alerts then this is a great tool.
    
    It's at the high-end for sw TA. TC2000 is good and a lot cheaper. But
    TC 2000 isn't programmable with it's own language. MetaStock by Equis
    is also very good but it's soon to be upgraded to Windows.
    
    Some careful consideration has to be given to the use of these tools.
    The tools cannot make decisions. If you don't understand TA then these
    tools are useless.
    
    Telescan offers Prosearch, fundamentals and charting capability. SC 2.1
    goes far beyond this using Telescan's data.  So the question is one of
    Value Added.  If, depending on what you know about TA, Telescan etc.
    you get more than $249 in value added by acquiring SC 2.1 then you are
    ahead. If you don't really have a good understanding of TA which
    requires the addition of SC 2.1 then you've just tossed away $249.
    
    
    
    

    Does SC 2.1 support the ChartPro / Megatech file format for data
    storage ?
    
    Is any other supported data file formats documented, so that a
    converter can be written ?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Klaus