----- Original Message -----
Sent: March 09, 2010 2:20 AM
Subject: Re: [amibroker] Few Newbie
Questions re: yahoo data
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 -----
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!!
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.