Bid Size Formula in Excel

Discover how to retrieve real-time bid size information for stocks, indices, options, and cryptocurrencies in Excel using the Bid Size formula with MarketXLS. This powerful Excel function helps you stay up to date on the number of shares or contracts that market makers are willing to purchase at the current bid price.

Understanding Bid Size

• Purpose: The BidSize function returns the quantity of a security that a market maker is offering to purchase at the bid price.
• Key Benefits:
  • Accurate real-time or delayed market data.
  • Quick insights into market depth.
  • Invaluable for day traders, swing traders, and investors monitoring liquidity.
• When to Use: Use the BidSize function when you need to track how much volume is available at the current bid. This information can inform trading strategies and help gauge market sentiment.

Syntax and Parameters

=BidSize(Symbol)

• Return Value: The BidSize function returns a numeric value (or text) representing the quantity of shares/contracts available at the bid price. If data is unavailable or the symbol is invalid, the function returns "NA".

?? Note: The function relies on your MarketXLS license validation and external data feeds. If your license is invalid or the symbol cannot be found, "NA" will be returned.

Error Handling

• Invalid Symbol: Returns NA if the symbol is not recognized.
• License Issue: If your MarketXLS license is invalid, the function returns an error message or NA.

Special Cases and Limitations

• Options: For option symbols (e.g., @MSFT 110122C00020000), the function looks up the bid size based on the option’s last known market data.
• Performance Considerations: If you make multiple calls to BidSize (for many symbols) in a single sheet, retrieving data might take longer due to web requests.

Examples and Usage

Below are several ways to use the BidSize function for different symbol formats:

1. For a regular stock symbol:

   =BidSize("MSFT")

2. For an index:

   =BidSize("^SPX")

3. For an option:

   =BidSize("@MSFT 110122C00020000")

4. For a cryptocurrency pair:

   =BidSize("BTCUSD:DEFAULT")

? Pro Tip: Combine BidSize with other MarketXLS functions (e.g., AskPrice, LastPrice) to get a complete intraday snapshot of a security’s quote data.

• Date Inputs: This function does not require a date parameter, so references to cell-based dates or Excel date formats are not applicable here.

Real-World Applications

• Intraday Strategy: Track the bid size of multiple symbols to identify market depth and potential turning points in real time.
• Volatility Analysis: Combine with historical data to observe how bid sizes fluctuate during market events.

Common Questions

1. Why am I getting NA for a valid symbol?

   • Ensure your MarketXLS license is active and the symbol is formatted correctly. Some symbols may differ by region or exchange.

2. Is the data delayed or real-time?

   • The data can be delayed or real-time depending on your MarketXLS subscription and data bundle.

3. How can I refresh the data automatically?

   • Use Excel’s built-in refresh options or VBA to pull updated quotes periodically.

4. Are there limitations on the number of symbols I can query?

   • Your MarketXLS plan may set limits on simultaneous or total queries. Check with your subscription details.

?? Note: For large watchlists, consider optimizing refresh intervals or splitting symbol queries into multiple sheets to improve performance.