QM_ContractHigh: Retrieve the Futures Contract High in Excel

The QM_ContractHigh function in MarketXLS quickly returns the high price data for a futures contract (often referred to as the “Contract High”). This function is valuable for anyone analyzing or monitoring futures markets directly within Excel. Whether you are evaluating the highest price over a specific contract’s lifetime or simply want a quick check of live data (where available), QM_ContractHigh streamlines your workflow by pulling data almost instantly, subject to your current data subscription status and licensing setup.

Why Use This Function?

• Quickly retrieve the high price of a futures contract directly into Excel for easier data analysis.
• Ideal for traders, analysts, and brokers who want to keep track of contract highs at a glance.
• Helps with historical comparisons, charting, and advanced quantitative models.
• Eliminates the need to toggle between different platforms; you can work and track futures data straight in Excel.
• Integrates seamlessly with MarketXLS data refresh mechanics for up-to-date contract highs.

How to Use in Excel

Use the function in any cell in your Excel worksheet as shown below:

=QM_ContractHigh("SYM")

Replace "SYM" with the ticker symbol of the futures contract whose high you want to retrieve. For example, you might use something like =QM_ContractHigh("ESZ23") (as a hypothetical ticker format) to fetch the contract high for that specific future.

1. Enter the formula in a cell.
2. Press Enter.
3. MarketXLS will check your license status, fetch cached data if available, or prompt you to refresh if necessary.

If the data is not immediately available or if you need a refresh, MarketXLS may return messages such as “Refreshing” or “Please Refresh” to indicate that you should update your data feed.

Parameters Explained

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. =QM_ContractHigh("ESZ23")

   • Retrieves the contract high price for the E-mini S&P 500 December 2023 futures (hypothetical symbol “ESZ23”).
   • If the value is cached and valid, you’ll see the contract high instantly.

2. =QM_ContractHigh("CLF24")

   • Retrieves the contract high price for a hypothetical January 2024 Crude Oil futures contract.
   • If the data is missing, you might see “NA,” “Please Refresh,” or “Refreshing.”

3. =QM_ContractHigh("NGQ25")

   • Retrieves data for a hypothetical natural gas futures contract.
   • Perfect for quickly comparing across different commodities side by side in Excel.

Advanced Scenarios

• Combining with Other Functions

• Use QM_ContractHigh together with Excel functions like MAX or AVERAGE to compare contract highs for multiple symbols or to calculate moving averages of historical highs (after storing them in your sheet).

• Data Monitoring Dashboard

• Build a personalized dashboard in Excel by referencing QM_ContractHigh for multiple symbols.
• Add conditional formatting to highlight any new contract highs or unexpected dips based on your data refresh schedule.

• Strategy Implementation

• Traders can design breakout strategies by pairing the contract high retrieval with real-time or historical data from other MarketXLS functions.
• For instance, compare the current price to the contract high, and trigger alerts or highlight cells once the contract nears that high.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

• Why am I seeing “NA”?

• You may have used an incorrect or unrecognized symbol. Double-check the symbol for accuracy.

• Why do I see “Refreshing”?

• MarketXLS is updating its internal cache. Wait for the process to complete and see if the function updates automatically.

• Why does it say “Please Refresh”?

• This indicates that you need to trigger a refresh or that the data is not currently available in MarketXLS.

• License Error or “ERR”?

• Ensure your MarketXLS license is valid. If your license has expired or is invalid, the function cannot retrieve data.

• Can I use this for different commodities or indices?

• Yes, as long as you have a valid symbol recognized by MarketXLS and your data subscription covers that futures contract.

With QM_ContractHigh, analyzing the high price of futures contracts is straightforward and integrated into your everyday Excel workflow. By leveraging MarketXLS’s powerful data connections, you will have reliable, on-demand updates (subject to your data plan), enabling more informed trading decisions and improved efficiency in your market research.