This document provides an introduction to using the Bloomberg database. It explains that Bloomberg provides real-time financial, news and economic data with a 15 minute delay for academic users. It then demonstrates how to navigate the Bloomberg keyboard and terminals to access company profiles, industry reports, conduct equity and bond screenings, and find forecasts and additional learning resources. Users are directed to contact the library for help accessing seminars or troubleshooting assistance.

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Introduction to Bloomberg
Redzuan Abdullah
Research Librarian, Business
September 2019

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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

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

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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>

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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

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Where to start?
• Home screen after login:

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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

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

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

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

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

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1. FIND COMPANY INFORMATION

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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>

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Company information
 GOOG US Equity Menu Screen

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 Equity overview: DES <GO>
Company information

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 Financial Analysis: FA <GO>
Company information

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

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 Price graph (table)
Company information

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 Historical price table: HP <GO>
Company information

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 Analyst recommendations: ANR<GO>
Company information

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

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

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 Comparable Analysis: RV <GO>
Company information

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2. FIND INDUSTRY INFORMATION

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

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Industry information
 Bloomberg Intelligence: BI <GO>

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Industry information
 Drill down to specific industry dashboard

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3. EQUITY SCREENING

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Equity screening
 Equity screening: EQS <GO>

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

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

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

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Equity screening
 Click on “Results” button

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Equity screening
 Results list

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

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Equity screening
 Analyse

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Equity screening
 Grouping by industry

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4. BOND SCREENING

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Bonds screening: SRCH <GO>

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

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

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5. OTHER USEFUL COMMANDS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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• 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
• Email: redzuana@smu.edu.sg