Retrieve the Latest Bid Price with QM_Bid
The QM_Bid function in the MarketXLS Excel Add-in allows you to quickly fetch the current bid price of a stock directly in your spreadsheet. By simply providing a stock ticker symbol, the function taps into QuoteMedia data through MarketXLS and returns the most recent bid price. This direct access to timely quotes helps investors and analysts make swift, data-driven decisions.
Why Use This Function?
- Ideal for tracking intraday or near real-time bid prices of U.S.-listed equities.
- Helps investors quickly compare bid and ask quotes to spot changes in market sentiment.
- Enables automated watchlists, dashboards, or trading models in Excel without manual updates.
- Offers easy integration with existing financial models, saving time and reducing errors.
- Useful in real-world scenarios such as day trading, portfolio rebalancing, or monitoring a watchlist of stocks.
How to Use in Excel
=QM_Bid("AAPL")
- Type “=QM_Bid(” into a cell.
- Enter a valid U.S. stock ticker symbol (e.g., "AAPL" for Apple).
- Press Enter to fetch and display the bid price from QuoteMedia via MarketXLS.
If the data is still loading or refreshing, you may see an intermediate return value like “Refreshing” or “Please Refresh.” Once complete, you’ll get the latest available bid price.
Parameters Explained
Parameter | Description | Example Values | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
symbol | The ticker symbol for which you want the bid price. | "AAPL", "MSFT", "TSLA" | Must be a valid U.S. stock ticker symbol. Quotes are pulled directly from QuoteMedia through MarketXLS. |
• Passing invalid or blank symbols results in “NA.”
• If a license or data subscription is inactive, the function can return an error message prompting configuration.
Example Usage
Basic Examples
-
=QM_Bid("MSFT")
• Returns the current bid price for Microsoft (MSFT).
• If this is the first time pulling data, you might briefly see “Please Refresh” until the bid is fully retrieved. -
=QM_Bid("TSLA")
• Retrieves Tesla’s current bid price.
• If Tesla’s symbol data is refreshing, you may see “Refreshing” until the quote is ready. -
=QM_Bid("INVALID")
• Returns “NA” because the ticker symbol is not recognized or is invalid.
Advanced Scenarios
• Batch Bid Requests: By creating a range of equations (e.g., =QM_Bid(A2), =QM_Bid(A3), …), you can manage multiple tickers at once for a watchlist or a portfolio in Excel.
• Integrating in a Trading Model: Combine =QM_Bid() with other MarketXLS real-time functions (e.g., ask price, volume, etc.) to trigger conditional alerts or rebalancing signals in your Excel model.
• Automating Refresh with Macros: Use Excel VBA macros to refresh data on a schedule, ensuring you always see the most current bid prices in real time.
Common Questions and Troubleshooting
-
Why am I getting “NA”?
• The symbol might be invalid or missing. Make sure you’re using a correct ticker (e.g., “AAPL” not “APPL”).
• The symbol might be cached as invalid. Refresh your data or check your MarketXLS and QuoteMedia subscriptions. -
Why does it say “Refreshing” instead of a price?
• MarketXLS is in the process of retrieving updated data from QuoteMedia’s servers. It usually resolves once the data is fully loaded. -
Do I need a subscription or license for this?
• Yes. A valid MarketXLS license and an active data subscription for QuoteMedia are required to retrieve live or delayed bid quotes. -
Why am I prompted to “Please Refresh”?
• This means the system is unable to retrieve the updated data at the moment. Trigger a data refresh in MarketXLS or wait for the automatic refresh cycle.
By using QM_Bid, you gain a streamlined method of retrieving timely bid prices, powering your investment research and trading strategies directly within Excel. Leverage its simplicity to evaluate short-term trading opportunities, compare multiple stocks, and build a robust real-time monitoring system—all without leaving your spreadsheet.