Ask Size Formula in Excel

Use the Ask Size formula in Excel (with MarketXLS) to easily retrieve the quantity of a security that a market maker is offering to sell at the ask price. This function is particularly useful for analyzing real-time market liquidity and understanding potential selling pressure.

Understanding Ask Size

• Purpose: The Ask Size reveals how many shares, contracts, or units of a security are available at the current ask price.
• Use Cases:
  • Tracking liquidity for high-frequency trading.
  • Monitoring market depth for stock or option trading strategies.
  • Assessing supply levels during intraday or end-of-day analysis.
• Key Benefits:
  • Simplifies market data retrieval directly within your Excel workflows.
  • Enhances trading decisions by pairing with other MarketXLS formulas like Ask Price and Last Price.
  • Offers quick access to real-time or delayed data updates, depending on your data subscription.

Syntax and Parameters

=AskSize(Symbol)

• Return Value: The function returns the quantity available at the current ask price for the specified symbol.
• Error Handling: If the symbol is invalid, or if there is a connection/licensing issue, the function returns "NA".

?? Note: Ensure you have an active MarketXLS license and a valid data source for real-time or delayed quotes to avoid the "NA" return value.

Examples and Usage

Below are several ways to use the AskSize function with different symbols:

1. Stock symbol:

   =AskSize("MSFT")

2. Index symbol:

   =AskSize("^SPX")

3. Option symbol:

   =AskSize("@MSFT 110122C00020000")

4. Cryptocurrency symbol:

   =AskSize("BTCUSD:DEFAULT")

? Pro Tip: Use AskSize in conjunction with Ask Price or Last Price in Excel to get a comprehensive snapshot of market activity.

Common Questions

1. What if I get “NA” as a result?

   • Check if the symbol entered is valid.
   • Verify your MarketXLS subscription status.
   • Ensure you have the correct data bundle for the security type.

2. Does the function work with all instruments?

   • Primarily designed for stocks, ETFs, options, and some cryptocurrencies.
   • Coverage may depend on your MarketXLS plan and data sources.

3. How often does the data update in Excel?

   • Depends on your real-time data subscription or the refresh interval set in Excel.
   • The function itself queries data on execution, but automatic refresh intervals are configurable in Excel settings.

4. Can I combine AskSize with Excel date functions?

   • This function only requires a Symbol and does not accept date parameters. If you need historical or date-based data, pair it with relevant MarketXLS functions or references to date-based queries.

?? Note: Large-scale queries or frequent refreshes may affect Excel performance. Consider limiting real-time calls or using caching features to optimize performance.