Tips and tricks
Here you can find several solution to frequently occurring problems in Datastream.
Event study
Do you want to perform an event study with Datastream data? Then you can use the Datastream Event Study Tool.
The Datastream Event Study Matching Tool matches variables from Datastream (like stock price) with event dates. This is a light version of the Datastream Event Study Tool. You can download the matching tool here (ERNA-login required).
P vs P#T
When you request the closing price (datatype: P), the last known value is repeated (padded) when the company is no longer public (for example after a merger). This can be confusing, especially when you request the closing price in a different currency (because the changes you see are due to the exchange rate). When you choose the datatype P#T, the last known value is not repeated.
Under Options in Datastream you can set what ís visible in your output. Under 'Data Not Available String' you can for example enter NA (not available). Of course you can also choose to keep the cells empty.
The #T options works for more datatypes, but from Datastream Navigator we can't get a list of the possibilities, so you'll have to try to see if it works. If it doesn't work for your datatype, you'll get an error.
TIP: when you choose P#S there will be no data for exchange holidays, like christmas. |
More than 250 Columns needed
On the Datateamcomputers Excel 2007 is installed. In this version there is no longer a maximum of 256 columns. However, if you want to work with the data in Excel 2003, you have to take that maximum into account. If you need more than 250 series, companies and/or data items you have to split your list in lists of 250, or use the Datastream Request Table creator (which makes lists of 250 series automatically).
SEDOL-codes
SEDOL-codes which start with the letter B won't be recognized by Datastream: the software will show an error (invalid code or expression entered). This can be solved by adding "UK" in front of the SEDOL-code: UKB144QZ1 does deliver data.
If you have a whole list of SEDOL-codes, it is more efficient to add UK in front of all codes. In Excel this can easily be done with the function CONCATENATE: add UK as text 1 and select as text 2 the first cell of the list of SEDOL-codes. Draw this function downwards for the whole list.
If you want to cut and paste this new list into a new sheet remember to use 'paste special' and select 'value'.
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