Introduction. What is finxl? Why use finxl?

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2 2 Introduction This document provides a how to guide to assist new users or infrequent users of finxl. It is designed to describe the salient features, the general work flow, and how to create simple yet powerful data calls of fund data from the FE global database directly into Microsoft Excel documents. What is finxl? finxl is an Excel Plug-In allowing direct access to FE s fund database, allowing users to use Microsoft Excel as the front end for calling FE fund information. Data can be requested in large volumes for further analysis, or to simply create automatically updating preformatted cells within Excel. The system is powered using Citicodes (a four digit alpha numeric FE code given to all instruments within the database). Why use finxl? Since Microsoft Excel is the front end it allows users to use a familiar tool with all of the power and flexibility of Excel. Users may wish to use automatically updating preformatted

3 3 Excel spreadsheets replacing cell by cell with reliable fund data. Alternatively finxl allows users the ability to quickly extract large volumes of fund information for further analysis or manipulation. finxl enables users access to: Fund data Dynamic - daily fund performance and risk statistics Semi dynamic - fund sizes, charges, total expense ratios Static - fund attributes and flags Fund look up capabilities Fund filtering capabilities Getting started Right click to access the three plug-in options. FINXL - CREATE NEW DATA REPORT Pulls up the all the report options FINXL - OPEN DOWNLOAD PAGE Takes users through the installation guide FINXL - CONNECTION ADMIN Pulls up list of all queries

4 4 1. Create a new report To create a new report, open Excel, right click and select finxl create new data report. You will then see the different files of information available in a finxl report as below. Fig 1a Overview of the report capabilities Date list - Quick way to set up dates. The user has the ability to create updating dates Full portfolio fields - This report pulls through full portfolio holdings Fund breakdown - Allows you to search for geographical, sector, asset and top holdings breakdown of funds etc Fund code list - Locate Citicodes based on sector, fund group, FE Analytics lists, etc. - System powered with Citicodes, usually a good place to start Fund data field update - Create bespoke data fields to assign your own information to a Citicode Fund data fields - Pulls through factsheet and recent pricing data Fund manager details - Pulls through full manager details i.e. name, bio, whether they have an FE Alpha Manager status etc

5 5 Fund Search - Search for Citicodes using ISIN, Sedol codes and names the system is powered with Citicodes Instrument code search - Search index and sector codes, as well as managers, FE Analytics lists and portfolios etc Performance table (non static data) - Display performance and performance related rankings of funds between pre specified start and end dates Ratio stat - Pulls through full ratio stat information i.e. alpha, beta, rsquared, tracking error etc between user specified start and end dates Series returns - Indexed or raw prices over a specific time period and frequency can be used to generate a chart. 2. Adding dates for calculations using finxl date list Date list Automatically updates dates for calculations Fig 2a shows the dialogue for extracting dates from a report. Users could enter dates into cells and run performance numbers from one date to the next, however these dates are fixed. Users may wish to use finxl to automatically update the dates from one month to the next. If so the frequency allows users to define a long list of dates with a predefined frequency. Fig 2a

6 6 As in Fig 2b users may automatically set rolling periods. Fig 2b Offset is the period in which the user wished to go back in time. So for example, number of periods of twelve with an offset of one in Fig 2c with a frequency of monthly would return twelve month end dates with the most recent being one month ago. This first date series will commonly be the from date in a calculation. Descending ensure the latest period occupies the first cell, and orientation vertical will list the remaining periods in subsequent rows, or horizontal in subsequent columns. Fig 2c

7 7 Select OK and a list of from dates will be created To add end dates simply repeat the process in the row below, however select 0 offset for the latest month end date rolling back one month in each column. Fig 2d Tip: For cumulative performance simply replace the end dates to all be the same month end value. One month ago to latest month end, two months ago to latest month end, three months ago to latest month end and so on.

8 8 3. Adding Citicodes to Excel To add funds to the table, you can either input managers or fund sectors using fund code list as shown below.. Fig 3a Then use the various dialogue selections to specify certain managers or fund sectors or the entire class scheme. Fig 3b

9 9 The selection in Fig 3b would return any fund classified under the IMA classification scheme, or you can select individual sectors. Fig 3c shows some additional options available for the list: Include Master units only, if you wish to only view the main share class Include Names will automatically bring an additional column containing the fund s name Include header row for column titles Orientation allows users to specify the names listed vertically or horizontally. Fig 3c Tip: Use a comma and search again to add more than one company or sector. Alternatively there is a search function to help find funds in fund search with search capabilities for funds by name. Fig 3d shows key word search on funds that begin with fid that also contain emerg, the space acts as a wildcard search.

10 10 Fig 3d You will note in Fig 3e now we have identified Fidelity Emerging Market funds Fig 3e

11 11 4. Creating performance values Now we have funds and dates in Excel we can create performance calculations with various settings by selecting the first cell you wish the calculations to appear i.e. upper most left in the example below, fig 4a. Fig 4a Open finxl Performance Table to define the calculation characteristics in fig 4b

12 12 Fig 4b To select the codes first select the code dialogue box then it will save time to use the Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow, if you have funds listed vertically or Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow for a horizontal list of funds. Similarly for the start and end dates. This automatically resizes if the code list or the dates change fig 4c form here difine the calculation settings and the currency you require.

13 13 Fig 4c By selecting OK the data table populates with calculated information fig 4d Fig 4d Excel can now be used to format the data. To refresh the data simply select the query you wish to refresh, right mouse click and select refresh. To change the settings simply right click on the query you wish to edit and select finxl- update data parameters see fig 4e

14 14 Fig 4e Then change settings in the displayed dialogue box, fig 4f Fig 4f

15 15 5. Adding static data fields Select finxl create new report by right clicking on a new cell in Excel. Select data fields, select or type in the Citicodes then select fields and the drop down list appears. To select simply left mouse click, to add more than one field simply add a comma (,) then reselect additional fields. See fig 5a. Fig 5a Add heading- yes for a description of the columns, adjust col width automatically resizes column width upon refresh. Select OK to view the added data fields.

16 16 6. Relative and regression statistics Right click create a new report and select ratio stat, see fig 6a. Fig 6a In statistic name you will note the tool tip with the available statistics, and then enter the selected statistic, see fig 6b. Add the codes either from an existing list in excel or input comma separated Citicodes. Add the number of months required in the calculation and add the orientation, v for vertical or h for horizontal. Fig 6b

17 17 7. Holdings data To import holdings information into Excel, you can use the fund breakdown function. See fig 7a. Fig 7a To make the most value of the plug-in we can reference the content of a cell as opposed to entering a Citicode. Use the dialogue box to select the holdings data: Asset Breakdown Area Breakdown Sector Breakdown Top Holdings Leave the breakdown codes blank to view all the selected aggregated holding or alternatively select from the list to specify your required breakdowns. Add the number of months ago you wish to view, see fig 7b.

18 18 Fig 7b Use a comma (,) to view multiple months ago see fig 7c Fig 7c To view the results for 0 months ago select OK. See Fig 7d Fig 7d

19 19 To add the fund name, select the cell for the location, right mouse click, select create new report by right clicking on a new cell in Excel, select data fields, select or type in the Citicode then select Fields. The drop down list appears, to select simply left mouse click, and choose name, see fig 7e. Fig 7e Now using the Citicode reference cell you can change the Citicode in cell A2, note the fund name and the holding data automatically update.

20 20 8. Time series data To create time series data right click where you wish the data to start from, then select finxl create new data report. Now select series return see Fig 8a. Identify the Citicodes and select the series type. Select the frequency and the start and end dates. A blank end date uses latest data. We can use and refer to cells containing Excel date functions as opposed to inserting hard coded dates. Gaps allow users to leave a blank value blank, skip any blanks or bring forward the previous price. The index base can be set as the starting or ending value and show date will import the series next to its relevant date. Orientation simply defines the time series to be listed vertically or horizontally.

21 21 Fig 8a Select OK to view results see fig 8b

22 22 Fig 8b The time series can now be used for Charting, see fig 8c Fig 8c Simply change the Citicodes to change the data throughout Excel, see fig 8d. Fig 8d

23 23 Last updated April 2012