Estimator Help Docs
Estimator > Estimation Inputs > Importing Returns from Outside Sources

Importing Returns from Outside Sources

Estimator Help Documentation

If you enter tickers in the Asset Tickers row of the Asset Returns Worksheet, the Estimator can import return data from Yahoo! Finance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), and Bloomberg. (See the Considerations section below for more information about the data sources.) To access these features, click on Load, and select the Import menu in the Estimator Ribbon.

The Import returns from online data sources option within the Load drop down menu on the NFA ribbon overwrites any data in the columns of recognized tickers.

The Update returns from Yahoo/BLS option only imports data to empty cells or cells that display "N/A". It will not disturb previously entered returns, which is useful for appending data to previously vetted returns.

The Update returns since Last Update option will limit the data import process to returns at the end of each asset return series, since the last update. This is useful for adding new time periods to update a dataset without disturbing previous work, which could include N/A entries that were deliberately created to eliminate undesirable data.

  • Open a saved case or set up a new return series matrix on the Asset Returns Worksheet.

    • Check that the correct tickers, date range, and period appear. (If not, either start a new return series or add the appropriate rows and columns.)  

    • Set the desired data source for each asset in the Ticker Source Row. For instance, BLS for CPI, Yahoo for VGSIX, etc.

    • Enter or update asset names, descriptions, and groups as desired.

    • If new columns or rows have been added, run Validate/Resize before importing returns.

  • Ensure that your computer is connected to the internet.  

  • Select the import or update option from the Import submenu of the Load drop down menu. The returns populate as available. Data that cannot be imported or updated appears as "N/A".

  • Since the data are streamed from online sources, sometimes data acquisition is erratic and may produce unexpected results. If this happens, try again and usually the problem will be resolved.

 CPI

If you wish to use the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as your benchmark return series, enter CPI in the Asset Name field in the Benchmark Column and the Series ID from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website in the Asset Ticker field. Select "BLS" as the Ticker Source. As there isn't just one Consumer Price Index, you will need to select the appropriate index for your data.

Sample Series IDs as of October 2011:  (Use Excel's Paste Special--text option to copy into the Asset Returns Worksheet.)

  1. CUUR0000SA0 - U.S. All items, 1982-84=100
  2. CUUR0000SA0L1E  - U.S. All Items Less Food and Energy
  3. CWUR0000SA0 Consumer Price Index - Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
  4. CWUR0000SA0L1E - U.S. All Items Less Food and Energy, 1982-84=100

Considerations:

  • Importing CPI data is not available for daily or weekly return series.

  • The tool looks for the closest date available, so if you enter dates in the middle of the month, the data still will be the standard monthly return.

  • If the last day of the last period is in the future, data for that period will be partial, up to the most recent market close before the import. However, the date listed in the left column after the import will be the day representing the end of the period, not the end date of the imported return.

  • New Frontier does not check for importation errors or source data issues.  New Frontier takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the data. We recommend that you check all imports carefully.

    • For Yahoo!, New Frontier pulls the Adjusted Close prices, which are adjusted for splits and dividends.  Access Yahoo! directly to understand more and to check their terms of service.

    • For CPI data, access the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  • You can import index returns by entering the index ticker preceded by a ^ as long as the index appears on Yahoo! Finance.

  • If the tool does not recognize a ticker while importing, any data in the column will be deleted.  

  • If the tool does not recognize a ticker while updating, the column remains exactly the same.

  • Neither import nor update affects assets that have been removed from the case via the Asset Wizard.  

Related Topics:

© 2024 New Frontier Advisors