Re: [amibroker] Few Newbie Questions re: yahoo data, AmiBroker Email List Archive

Hi Vernon,

I suppose the fast answer is "It depends". On what does it depend? Well really how are you using the data and for what stocks.

First of all, Yahoo data is WYSIWYG, i.e. it doesn't adjust for splits, symbol changes, etc. So if your principal use is to acquire a historic database to back test against, do so with extreme caution. If you are planning on maintaining a large number of symbols to track on a day to day basis to make EOD trading decisions for trades the next day, again the caveat "be careful and double check with another data source before placing trades" (you broker's data is probably sufficient here). If you are going to follow only a few (say 50 or fewer) stocks, then it may be fine. Why? Well as I said, Yahoo data is WYSIWYG and you will have to do all the adjustments for splits, symbol changes, etc. which means spending some amount of time tracking down that info in press releases, SEC filings, etc. On a large database this quickly becomes very time consuming. Your time is a resource and is better spent trading, preparing to trade, learning to trade, studying the markets, etc.

Thus, if you are really trading (or even investing by buying and selling more than a couple dozen times a year), you are better off spending the nominal amount to buy a data service that will maintain all that stuff for you and do so with reliable accuracy. Quotes Plus, TeleChart 2007, Premium Data from Norgate are all reasonably priced EoD data providers (think like a couple lattes a week) which integrate with AB nearly seamlessly. Another route to go is feed you broker's data to QuoteTracker and then import it into AB. This won't give you an instant lengthy historical database, but again depending on the number of stocks you plan to follow can be manageable. Keep in mind also that your costs for data feeds (like investment subscriptions and AB) is a tax deductible expense incurred to generate income.

If you do decide to go cheap (remember the adage "you get what you pay for" seems to have been invented for data feeds) and stay with free Yahoo data, pay close attention to daily highs and lows as well as open and closing prices and volume. Often there isn't too great a difference, but if you are using indicators which are based on these data points, be wary.

Peace and Justice --- Patrick

----- Original Message -----
From: vernon
To: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxps.com
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: [amibroker] Few Newbie Questions re: yahoo data

Hi -

Like wise, I am a "newbee" to all this. I had no intentions of becoming a programer, but I do like Amibroker. While I'm learning (and losing money <kidding>), I am using yahoo EOD data during my learning process. It appears to agree with my Scottrade Account (although I haven't done any investigation into the accuracy). I have no desire to use RT data - EOD is fine for my uses.

Could someone expand or provide more information with regard to the statement below of "yahoo EOD data being inaccurate"? That worries me a little since I'm investing my hard earned $$$$ using it. Thanks in advance for any insite/information you might provide.

As to when EOD data can be downloaded, I generally d/l it between 6 and 7 pm ET. If "historical" d/l doesn't pick it up, "current day" will.

Vernon

--
ENJOY LIFE!! Keep it SIMPLE!!

-----Original Message-----
From: howardbandy@gmail.com
Sent: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:38:39 -0700
To: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxps.com
Subject: Re: [amibroker] Few Newbie Questions

Hi Jchi --

High quality, low cost end-of-day data is available from several vendors. Two I recommend (I subscribe to them both) are:
Quotes Plus -- http://qp2.com/joomla/index.php
Norgate Premium Data -- http://www.premiumdata.net/

Read the reference materials related to BuyPrice, SellPrice, and TradeDelays. They work in combination.
The pair of statements
BuyPrice = Open;
SetTradeDelays(0,x,x,x);
uses the price of the open of the bar being processed.

The pair of statements
BuyPrice = Open;
SetTradeDelays(1,x,x,x);
uses the price of the open of the bar following the bar being processed.

Thanks,
Howard

On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 3:58 PM, jchi18 <inbox.chi@xxxxxxcom> wrote:

1. When is the earliest I can download EOD data from Yahoo? i.e., when will today's data be available for download?

2. In the trades tab when performing automatic analysis, what does buy price mean if I set it to open? i.e., I perform a scan of my trading system and it says that a buy signal was found for 2/26/10. When it is set to buy at the open price, will amibroker get the open price of 2/26 or 2/27?

3. What is the best but reasonably priced way of getting accurate EOD data into amibroker? I understand that Yahoo is inaccurate.

Feel free to contact me at inbox.chi@xxxxxxcom. THanks.

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