Introduction to the Bloomberg terminal

1. Introduction to Bloomberg
Jiaxin Low
Research Librarian, Finance
January 2017

2. BLOOMBERG
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it
means."

3. What is Bloomberg?
• A financial, news, economic database
• “Real-time” information – 15 min delay for
academic subscribers (that means us)
• Scope
– Global coverage
– Includes news and analyst reports

4. Bloomberg keyboard
• Most
recognisable
feature
• Special keyboard
– from this…

5. Bloomberg keyboard
• …to this
• Yellow keys are for different asset classes (eg
equity, fixed income, commodity, etc)
• Blue “Panel” key to toggle between windows
• Enter key is known as <GO>

6. Where to start?
Available in the Investment Studio only
• Log in to computer with your SMU ID and password
• Click on Bloomberg icon on the desktop
• Use the unique login ID and password for each
terminal http://researchguides.smu.edu.sg/login

7. Where to start?
• Home screen after login:

8. Home Screen
• It is a command-and menu-based system
(command line is NOT a search box)
Using the database
• Take a top-down approach
• Begin with asset class and narrow down

9. Using the command line
• Start typing and wait for drop down
• Select relevant option from dropdown

10. Using the command line
• If you know the ticker (e.g. MSFT)
• Type “MSFT”, press“Equity” (F8) key
• Hit <GO>

11. Security Finder: SECF <GO>
• Allows you to filter and search for all securities
available on Bloomberg

12. Security Finder: SECF <GO>
• Type into orange boxes to search
• Sort the column by clicking on header

13. 1. FIND COMPANY INFORMATION

14. Company information
• Type Google in the command bar
• Click to view information for GOOG US Equity
ticker
• Shortcut: Type in GOOG into command line,
press F8 key and hit <GO>

15. Company information
 GOOG US Equity Menu Screen

16.  Equity overview: DES <GO>
Company information

17.  Financial Analysis: FA <GO>
Company information

18.  Price graph (chart): GP <GO>
Company information

19.  Price graph (table)
Company information

20.  Historical price table: HP <GO>
Company information

21.  Analyst recommendations: ANR<GO>
Company information

22.  Broker/analyst reports: BRC <GO>
Company information

23.  Broker/analyst reports: BRC <GO>
Company information

24.  Comparable Analysis: RV <GO>
Company information

25. 2. FIND INDUSTRY INFORMATION

26. Industry information
• Go to Bloomberg Intelligence
• Enter BI<GO>
• Select industry and drill down to dashboard

27. Industry information
 Bloomberg Intelligence: BI <GO>

28. Industry information
 Drill down to specific industry dashboard

29. 3. EQUITY SCREENING

30. Equity screening
 Equity screening: EQS <GO>

31. Equity screening
 Add screening criteria (e.g. exchanges)

32. Equity screening
 Use “Fields” button to search for screening criteria

33. Equity screening
 Click on “Fields” button to search for screening criteria


34. Equity screening
 Click on “Results” button

35. Equity screening
 Results list

36. Equity screening
 View Statistics (e.g. minimum, average, standard
deviation)

37. Equity screening
 Analyse

38. Equity screening
 Grouping by industry

39. 4. BOND SCREENING

40. Bonds screening: SRCH <GO>

41. Bonds screening: SRCH <GO>
• Go to “Example Searches” tab for pre-made
screens
• Load Search to view results

42. Bonds screening: SRCH <GO>
• Example: Dim Sum Bonds

43. 5. OTHER USEFUL COMMANDS

44. Other commands to note
• Commodity Price Forecast: CPFC <GO>

45. Other commands to note
• Economic Forecast: ECFC <GO>

46. Other commands to note
• Bloomberg Resource Centre Cheatsheets with
commonly used commands: BPS <GO>

47. Other commands to note
• Cheatsheets in PDF format, can be downloaded

48. Other commands to note
• To register for Bloomberg seminars, use BU
<GO> for Bloomberg University

49. Other commands to note
• Bloomberg Market Concepts BMC <GO>
• 8-hour course with 4 modules

50. • On the terminal: For help, press <HELP> once
for help screen, and <HELP><HELP> or click
on “Live Chat” button to contact helpdesk.
• Research guide:
http://researchguides.smu.edu.sg/bloomberg
• Email: library@smu.edu.sg
• Schedule a consultation with a research
librarian: http://jiaxinlow.youcanbook.me