Using Bloomberg API

1. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 1
Basic Bloomberg API
Baker Library
refquest@hbs.edu
Prepared by:
James Zeitler
Baker Research Services
jzeitler@hbs.edu

2. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 2
Agenda
• Housekeeping
– Logins
– Bloomberg terminal
• Using API
– From within Bloomberg
– From within Excel
• Saving results
– PFM
– Webmail
– Flashdrive
• Help

3. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 3
Housekeeping
• Logins
• Exchange Login
– http://www.library.hbs.edu/intraonly_cgi/secure/exchange
• Bloomberg Login
– By kiosk
– Personal
» Press “GO” without entering username/password
• Bloomberg terminal
• 4 Windows
– Blue “Panel” key
• Keyboard (<Alt-K>)
– Green “Action” keys
– Yellow “Market Sector” keys
– Red “Stop” keys
– Lilac
» Panel
» Currency and Fractions

4. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 4
Bloomberg Keyboard
Source: Bloomberg Document 2017365

5. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 5
Bloomberg Yellow/Sector Keys
• GOVT
– Government (US Treasury and non-US government agency securities)
• CORP
– Corporate debt
• MTGE
– Mortgages
• M-MKT
– Money market, including Commercial Paper, CDs, Bankers’ Acceptances, Medium Term
Notes
• MUNI
– Municipal Debt
• PFD
– Preferred shares
• EQUITY
– Equity shares
• CMDTY
– Commodity markets
• INDEX
– Indices
• CRNCY
– Currency markets

6. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 6
Using API: Bloomberg to Excel
• From Bloomberg
terminal to Excel
– E.g.: IBM <Equity> FA 16
• Or:
– IBM<Equity><GO>
– 9) Fundamentals and
Earnings Analysis
– 1) Financial Analysis
– 16) Income Analysis

7. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 7
Bloomberg To Excel (2)
• From Bloomberg terminal to Excel
– Options
• Excel Download
• Note:
– Mnemonics
– Template
• Change ticker
• Change currency
– Bloomberg function
calls (cell C8)

8. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 8
Push-Pin Drag and Drop
• From Bloomberg terminal to Excel
– WEI
• 4) DOW JONES INDUS.AVG
– 11) Equity Index Analysis
» 2) MEMB Index Members
– Or
• INDU <INDEX> MEMB

9. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 9
Push-Pin Drag and Drop (2)
• Left-click and drag Push-Pin to
open worksheet

10. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 10
Bloomberg API Wizards In Excel
• Wizards
– Table Wizard
• Select data items for a list
– Fundamentals Wizard
• Standard format reports
– E.g.: Cash Flow, Income Analysis, Balance Sheet
– History Wizard
• Time series data items for one or more entities

11. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 11
Table Wizard
Field search

12. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 12
Fundamentals Wizard
•Note:
•Change ticker in B1
•BLP…Refresh
•Fundamentals

13. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 13
History Wizard (1)

14. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 14
History Wizard (2)

15. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 15
Bloomberg API Functions
=BLPH(Security,Field<s>,Start Date,End Date*,Points*,Reverse*,Period*,
Non-trading days*,Filler*,Dates*,Rows,Columns,Direction*,Show Price*,
Currency*,GPA*)
E.g.: BLPH (Bloomberg History) function

16. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 16
BBXL

17. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 17
Bloomberg Worksheet Functions

18. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 18
BLPH Function

19. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 19
Demo Spreadsheets
• BBXL
– 8) Equity
• DOCS APIEQ
or

20. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 20
Company Financial Comparisons

21. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 21
Saving Results
• PFM (Personal File Manager)
–Compose
• Attachments
• Send
• Webmail
• Flashdrive

22. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 22
PFM in Bloomberg

23. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 23
Help With API
• BBXL
• DOCS
– E.g.: IDOC API

24. Fall 2006 Basic Bloomberg API 24
<HELP> <HELP>