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Bloomberg Help Guide
For more information see our class guide or email Lippincott Library
Getting Started
Bloomberg terminals are available in Lippincott Library and in Huntsman Hall, 2nd Floor. In Lippincott Library, they are close to the Reference Desk.
Navigation
Yellow Market Sector Keys
CMDTY: Commodities, futures, options, spot rates
CORP: Corporate Debt
CRNCY: Spots, futures, options on over 100 currencies
EQUITY: ADRs, mutual funds, rights, stocks, options, warrants
GOVT: Worldwide sovereign and agency securities
INDEX: World financial markets, economic indices.
M-MKT: Continuously issued and short-term dated paper
MTGE: Mortgage-backed security pass-throughs
MUNI: U.S. municipality issued debt
Green Action Keys
GO: Activates all commands
MENU: Go back one level
PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN: Navigate between pages
Tip: Use the Cancel key to start over
Where's Help?
At the cursor prompt at the top of the screen enter your term and hit the <HELP> key.
Example: Beta <HELP> Choose from the results screen for more information on your topic.
Sector Help:
SECTOR KEY <GO> then <HELP>
Example: <CMDTY> <GO> then <HELP> (The help key can be used at any screen or menu level)
Email the Bloomberg Help Desk
Hit the <HELP> key twice and type your question. To retrieve your response type MSG1<GO>
Search by Company Name
Type company name at cursor prompt and hit the <HELP> key
Example: Dell Computer <HELP> <GO>
Search by Ticker Symbol
Find the ticker symbol for the company:
Hit the <EQUITY> key, then enter TK <GO>
Enter the company name <GO>
If you know the ticker symbol for the company go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO>
Company Financials
Enter Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO>
Then choose 9) Fundamentals and Earnings Analysis OR go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> CH1 <GO> for a Company Financial History
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> CH2 <GO> for Income Statements
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> CH3 <GO> for Balance Sheets
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> EE <GO> for Earning Estimates
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> HE <GO> for a Price/Earnings Ratio Table
Tip: For definitions and information on calculations in a company's financial statement type FDO <GO>
Financial Analysis
Enter Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO>
Then choose 9) Fundamentals and Earnings Analysis and then 1) Financial Analysis OR
go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> FA <GO>
Historical Stock Prices
Enter:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO>, then choose 2) Historical Prices OR go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> HP <GO> for Historical Prices
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> GP <GO> for a Historical Price Graph
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> GPO <GO> for a Graph with Prices and Volume
Finding Options
Enter:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO> then choose 6) Options, Warrants and Contracts OR go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> OMON <GO> (OMON = Option Monitor. This will provide all current and future Calls and Puts for the equity)
Comparative Return Analysis
Compare the stock price, returns and dividends of two equities:
Enter: Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> COMP <GO>
Total Return Analysis
For an Equity:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO> then choose 10) Relative Performance/Total Return OR go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> TRA <GO>
For an Index:
Index Symbol <INDEX> <GO> then choose 10) Relative Performance/Total Return OR go directly by entering:
Index Symbol <INDEX> TRA <GO>
Historical Beta
Enter:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO>, then choose 11) Risk/Volatility Analysis OR go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> BETA
Analyst Recommendations
Enter:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO>, then choose 7) News/Research/Chat OR go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> ANR <GO>
Finding Corporate Bonds
Search by Issuer:
Ticker Symbol <CORP> <GO> (This will list all bonds issued by the equity. Choose a specific bond for more information.)
To search for specific bond:
Ticker Symbol Coupon Rate Maturity <CORP> <GO>
Example: IBM 5.4 01/26/09 <CORP> <GO>
Finding Government Bonds
Enter:
WB <GO> for a listing of major government bonds around the world
To find US Treasury Bonds directly enter:
CT10 <GOVT> <GO> for the 10 year bond or CT5 <GOVT> <GO> for the 5 year (This formula can be used for any US benchmark bond)
To find the 3month T-Bill enter:
CB3 <GOVT> <GO>
For US Generic Bonds enter:
USGG5YR <INDEX> <GO> for the 5 year or USGG10YR <INDEX> <GO> (This formula can be used for any US generic bond)
Exchange Rates
For Exchange Rates by region enter:
<CRNCY> TKC <GO>
For World Currency Rates enter:
<CRNCY> WCR <GO>
Spot and Forward Rates
For Spot and Forward Rates enter:<CRNCY> FRD <GO>
Company News
Enter Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> <GO>, then choose 7) News/Research/Chat OR go directly by entering:
Ticker Symbol <EQUITY> CN <GO>
Using the Graphing Function
Enter:
G <GO> then choose 1 <GO> to create a new graph. Follow instructions to set-up a graph.
