BLOOMBERG - Jan Röman



BLOOMBERG

Getting Started:

1. From the Start Menu on the Bloomberg PC, select Bloomberg. The Bloomberg System will open.

2. To log in, hit the red CONNect DeFauLT key in the upper right corner of the keyboard.

3. Enter Name: FTTC, Enter Password: OPEN. Then hit the green key.

Once in the system, a few useful keys and commands will be helpful.

Useful Items:

1. Whenever in an unfamiliar screen requiring an input, look for directions from Bloomberg as to the order of the required keystrokes. In most instances, the system will give hints.

2. If a screen is entered that was not intended, use the "menu" key to peel back to the original menu for more selections. The "menu" key usually serves just as the "escape" key would within a Windows environment.

3. If the exact command is known, there is no need to search through the menu system. For example, if it is known that the "HP" command is what is needed with regard to a certain equity, then the menu could be circumvented by typing in "symbol (equity key) HP (go key)". This generalization can be used within any of the Yellow keys. In fact, when appropriate, the security’s cusip number can be substituted for the symbol.

 Example: If the user knows the cusip of a corporate bond and wants to know the details on the bond, the shortcut would be as follows:

cusip # Corp DES Go

For a municipal bond: cusip # Mtge Des Go

 

4. If assistance other than this manual is needed, hit the "Help" key while in the menu which is giving trouble. In most instances the help system will suffice. If not, the final authority on help with Bloomberg is via telephone. To find the on-line telephone number, hit the red cancel key and an information screen with relevant telephone numbers will pop up.

5. If a multi-page document has been pulled up and it is inconvenient to page forward through each page, then type the number of pages that you need to go forward and then hit the page forward key. This will also work for the back page key.

6. If a multi-page document has been pulled up and it is inconvenient to print each page individually, then two options are available.

a. type the number of pages needed to be printed and then hit the print key, or

b. type 9 and then hit the print key. This will print the entire story or document.

Functional Keys

The functional keys guide the user through the various databases which Bloomberg maintains. It is a very logical system that enables the user to find information under a logical category.

 Yellow keys:

Equity | M-Mkt | Crncy | Client | Pfd | Muni | Corp | Cmdty | Mtge | Index | Govt

The yellow keys are really the doorway to the database section of Bloomberg, Each key marks the entrance to the keys description of data. It is not necessary to know where to go when entering one of the yellow sections of Bloomberg. The system will give the user the opportunity to look up the specific code for the information in question. It will also create a menu of all the available information searches once a yellow section is entered. One key to using the Bloomberg is to follow the directions at the top of the screen and always read the available menu items, which offer all of the available uses under a given yellow key.

The user will find that after using Bloomberg, there is a set pattern for retrieving information concerning each category of information. As such, many of the examples provided below will appear repetitive in nature. Once the pattern is recognized, the user should feel confident that their ability on Bloomberg is sufficient for most uses.

Equity

The Equity section of Bloomberg contains an historical, as well as intraday, price record for a particular common stock as well as any information relating to any options which base their value from the underlying equity. In addition, any fundamental or SEC filed information relating to the company will also be found in the equity section of Bloomberg.

To enter the equity section of Bloomberg, do the following:

1. From anywhere in Bloomberg type: "ticker symbol" Equity Go.

2. Bloomberg will take the user to a menu offering all of the choices within the Equity section of the system.

3. The user may now :

a. Hit page forward to look at additional choices within Equity, or

b. Select an option for that security by typing the corresponding number of a selection, or type the corresponding code for the selection as listed in the menu.

Example: The user wants to look at a daily historical pricing table of IBM common stock.

1. Type: IBM Equity Go.

2. After searching the menu, HP is found to be the correct code for a daily pricing table.

3. Type: HP Go.

4. The daily pricing chart is brought up by Bloomberg.

5. Note that certain fields will be highlighted (dates, period, etc). By hitting the Tab key, the user will reach these fields for editing and retrieving the proper data.

6. Suppose that HP was not the correct code for the information needed. Then , type Menu and Bloomberg will bring the user back to the original Equity menu for further choices.

 

Example: If the user knows that HP is the correct code for his use, then a shortcut avoiding the Menu can be done:

1. Type: IBM Equity HP Go.

2. This will bring the user to point number 4 from above.

3. However, if HP was not correct, hitting the Menu key will still bring the user back to the Main Equity Menu for IBM.

 

Example: What if the code for Westinghouse is needed before proceeding to find information concerning Westinghouse?

1. Type: Equity TK Go.

2. Type the name Westinghouse into the prompt which Bloomberg brings up and then Go.

3. The Ticker symbol for Westinghouse (or like spelled named public companies) will be brought up. Now follow the directions on the screen to retrieve information concerning Westinghouse.

Example: What if a quote for IBM is needed?

1. Using the shortcut method, type: IBM Equity Q Go

2. In this instance, a quick quote for IBM will be provided on the top line of the screen as the quote takes up only one line.

The above information relating to Equity is enough to take the user to any portion of the equity database. The best way to learn the system is to just explore the Equity (or other yellow keys Menu with respect to a particular stock. You will find that Bloomberg not only provides the data, but will in many cases provide analytical tools to help analyze the information which the system provides.

***The general use of key strokes within each of the following security groups is just as those in the Equity section.

M-Mkt

This section of the Bloomberg database relates to Money Market Information in the sense of Corporate issuance. For instance, should the user need to find information regarding IBM’s commercial paper program, the information would reside in M-Mkt. Pricing templates with information relating to IBM’s commercial paper program can also be found in order to expedite cash settlement figures. This section does not hold information regarding generic rates such as Federal Funds. General Economic Rates and measures will be found in the Index Section. {internet pointer to the Index section}

Crncy

This section relates to the foreign currency database with information relating to spot rates, forward rates, options and the ability to give indications concerning cross rates.

To enter the Crncy function: Press the yellow Crncy key and then Go.

Again, the system works in the same general pattern as the other yellow functional sections.

 

Client

The Client yellow key relates to a specialized function which is used to store information relating to the clients portfolio information. Upon entering the Client function, Bloomberg will provide all the instructions necessary to store private security information for easy later retrieval.

To enter the Client function: Press the yellow Client key and then Go.

Pfd

The Preferred Stock yellow key stores information relating to the Preferred Stock of public companies. Note however, that the primary database for fundament information resides in the Equity Section and not the Preferred Stock section.

To enter the Pfd function: Press the yellow Pfd key and then Go.

 

Muni

The Municipal section of Bloomberg provides trading, descriptive and settlement information regarding municipal and state bonds. The database is detailed and will also provide pricing information regarding a large portion of the bonds covered by the database.

To enter the Muni function: Press the yellow Muni key and then Go.

Corp

The Corp section of Bloomberg provides trading, descriptive and settlement information regarding corporate bonds. The database is quite in depth and will also provide pricing information regarding a large portion of the bonds covered by the database.

To enter the Corp function: Press the yellow Corp key and then Go.

 

*Note: While in the Corporate Menu, review carefully the available selections concerning the bond in question. The user will find quite an array of analytical tools available for analyzing corporate bonds.

Cmdty

The Commodity section of Bloomberg provides trading, descriptive and settlement information regarding commodities and their associated futures. The database is quite in depth and will also provide pricing information regarding a large portion of commodities covered by the database.

To enter the Cmdty function: Press the yellow Cmdty key and then Go. 

*Note: While in the Commodity Menu, review carefully the available selections concerning the commodity contract in question. The user will find quite an array of analytical tools available for analyzing the contract.

Mtge

The Mortgage section of Bloomberg provides trading, descriptive and settlement information regarding mortgages and CMO’s. The database is quite in depth and will also provide pricing information regarding a large portion of commodities covered by the database. In addition, by changing parameters for a given CMO, Bloomberg can be very easily used as a teaching tool to understand how interest rates or changes in pre-payment assumptions affect the price of such instruments.

To enter the Mtge function: Press the yellow Mtge key and then Go.

 

*Note: While in the Mortgage Menu, review carefully the available selections concerning the CMO in question. The user will find quite an array of analytical tools available for analyzing the contract.

Index

The Index section of Bloomberg provides information relating to a large number of generic interest rates as well as economic indices such as CPI etc. For example, the Index section would store information relating to the generic 3 month U.S. Treasury Bill as opposed to a particular Bill which has a maturity closest to 3 months.

To enter the Index function: Press the yellow Index key and then Go.

 

Govt

The Government section of Bloomberg provides information pertaining to securities issued by national governments and securities issued by quasi-governmental agencies. Note that the government section provides information relating to particular issues and does not provide generic information such as the approximate 30 year U.S. Treasury Bond rate. For generic rates, see the Index Section .

To enter the Govt function: Press the yellow Govt key and then Go.

 

Specialized Keys

The specialized keys really serve as operators within specific non-database functional areas of Bloomberg. Their uses can vary and are not as parallel within the category as the yellow keys. Provided below is a short description of the green keys.

Green keys:

Memo | Surveys | News | Monitor | Message | Help | Menu | Page-Back/Page-Fwd | Personal Macros

Memo

 In the current version of Bloomberg, the Memo key is not operable.

Surveys

The survey key enters the user in to the section of Bloomberg where the user can provide feedback to the people at Bloomberg. Hit the Survey key and follow the instructions.

News

The News key will bring the user to a menu of news categories where detailed news releases can be found. The section provides news stories ranging from economic to weather and sports news. Follow the instructions on the screen to view news stories and in some cases to hear news capsules. Should the user find himself in a wrong category, hit the "Menu" key to retrace his footsteps.

Note that the News section provides very broad news coverage. However, should the user be searching for news regarding a specific company, then the search should begin within the yellow equity section of Bloomberg.

 

Monitor

The Monitor key provides the user the ability create personalized screens in order to track a particular list of securities, indices, or commodities. Hit the Monitor key and follow the instructions to personalize up to 9 screens.

Message

Bloomberg provides the ability to communicate to any Bloomberg user via the Bloomberg Terminal. This ability is provided through the Message key. Strike the Message key and follow the instructions on the screen to send messages to other Bloomberg users.

If the message indicator is flashing at the top of the Bloomberg screen, it means that another user (from another terminal) has sent a message to someone at this screen. To retrieve the message, hit the Message key and follow the instructions to retrieve the message. Note that, the message indicator is a very good way to communicate with Brokers regarding products without having to make a telephone call.

Help

The Help key provides help to the user according to the Bloomberg functional area that the user first hit the Help key. For instance, if the user struck the Help key while in the yellow equity section, then Bloomberg will provide information relating to use of the equity section of Bloomberg. After reading the information provided, the system should return the user to the area where help was first sought.

Menu

As mentioned above concerning the yellow keys, the Menu key acts much as the escape key does within Windows. That is, striking the Menu key will bring the user one level closer to the menu section or to the menu section should the user be one step away from the Menu at hand. The Menu key is extremely useful if the user is within the News section, which can be many levels deep. Retreating one level at a time in that instance can reduce search time.

Page-Back/Page-Fwd

The Page-Back/Page-Fwd keys do just as they suggest within a multiple page data retrieval or news story. However, by entering a number before striking one of the keys will bring the user backward/forward the number of pages corresponding the number entered before the Page-Back/Page-Fwd key.

Personal Macros

The Personal Macro key brings the user to a section where the user can assign frequently used commands to short-cut keys strokes. Strike the Personal Macros key and follow the instructions to assign a command to a short-cut keys stroke. While Bloomberg commands are not very long, the Personal macros section can be used to provide specific charts for securities without having to remember the specific equity code for such chart.

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