Accountancy - Datastream Advance

Datastream provides current and historic financial information from around the globe. It covers equities, market indexes, company reports, commodities, foreign exchange rates and  interest rates. A range of charting and reporting tools are available which allow you to manipulate and display requested data.

Datastream is available for use in the Sir Duncan Rice Library in PC Classroom 3 on Floor 2. It is installed on the computers in the 2 rows to the rear of the classroom. Please note that this classroom is often booked for teaching during term-time. The time-table on the outside of classroom should be consulted before entering the room. In Addition, there is one PC on Floor 1 which is bookable for Datastream.

Where to find guidance:

• Help is available from the staff in the Business School
• Group online tutorials run by Thomson Database can be arranged for you. If you are interested, contact Elaine Shallcross: e.shallcross@abdn.ac.uk  

Two sample searches to boost your confidence:

1. Tesco total sales for the last 5 years

• Move mouse curser over Equities at top of list in Data Categories window on top left of the screen and click on criteria search.
• Type tesco into name box and click on search.
• From your results list click on the entry for UK tesco (country details about companies appear in right-hand window).
• In the Analysis window at the bottom left of the main Datastream screen, select Single Series – chart and line chart.
• In the window at the top of the screen, under Time Period check the radio button for 5 years.
• In the same window, select UK Pound from the Currency drop-down menu.
• Click on Run Now.
• Click on the down arrow at the bottom left of the chart to maximise the chart screen.
• To view your chart in a spreadsheet, click on the Excel icon from the toolbar (a green x).
  

2. Multiple series requests: comparing food retailers

Datastream allows you to compare performance and data for your own selection of companies. For example, to compare different supermakets:

• From the Analysis window select Multiple Series/Flexible Chart, then Comparison Line Chart, then Actual Values.
• Move the mouse curser over Equities in Data Categories window and click on Explorer.
• The next screen allows you to browse for companies by country and market area. Scroll down and click on United Kingdom.
• Click on Food/Drug retailers.
• A list of retailers appears in right-hand window. Click on Sainsbury J and it will be added to your list of companies in the window at the bottom left of the main screen.
• Repeat the above steps to add a couple of other retailers to your list.
• Change the time period as required and then click Run Now.

Accessing general economic data (exchange rates, share indexes etc.)

From the Data Category list (top left of main screen) hold the mouse curser over Economics and click on Explorer. You will now be able to browse by country or economic category to ascertain the data you require. The key indicators option contains lists for topics, such as consumer spending, inflation rates and share indexes. International interest rates and exchange rates can also be accessed from this section of the database.