Retrieve Four Hour Intraday Data in Excel with MarketXLS

The fn_00990 function (implemented as QM_GetIntradayDataFourHour in the MarketXLS add-in) allows you to pull four-hour interval intraday stock data directly into your Excel spreadsheet. This is especially useful when you need higher-level analyses that focus on aggregated price movements within each trading session segment, rather than minute-by-minute noise.

By calling this function, MarketXLS requests data at four-hour increments for your chosen stock symbol and places it neatly below your active Excel cell, ready for analysis or integration with other spreadsheet formulas.

Why Use This Function?

• Obtain 4-hour interval data quickly: Ideal for identifying medium-term intraday patterns without dealing with overwhelming amounts of minute-level data.
• Focus on US market movements: Useful for tracking extended sessions and observing overarching trends over each four-hour segment.
• Automate in Excel: No special coding required; simply use the function in your sheet, and MarketXLS will retrieve and place the data automatically.
• Integrate with other analyses: Combine the resulting table with Excel’s built-in charting options or other MarketXLS functions for deeper insights (e.g., tracking intraday volumes, short-term momentum, or technical signals).
• Manage edge cases: If no data is retrieved for certain intervals (e.g., after-hours or holidays), the function gracefully avoids overwriting existing cells and returns a “No Data Retrieved” message when necessary.

How to Use in Excel

To retrieve four-hour intraday data for a specific symbol in Excel using MarketXLS:

=QM_GetIntradayDataFourHour("AAPL")

1. Select a cell where you would like the results to begin.
2. Type the function into that cell, referencing the desired ticker symbol (for example, "AAPL").
3. Press Enter. MarketXLS will request four-hour intraday intervals from its data provider and place the results in rows below the active cell.

After the function runs, you will see timestamps (converted to date/time in Excel), Open, High, Low, Close, Volume, or other columns supported by the data service. The columns automatically attempt to fit within your sheet for clarity.

Make sure your MarketXLS license is active and configured under “Settings/Help >> Settings >> Data Subscriptions” so that the data can be retrieved successfully.

Parameters Explained

Because fn_00990 specifically targets four-hour intervals, no other configuration is typically required. Under the hood, "interval" is set to “240” minutes, aligning with each four-hour block.

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. Retrieving Apple (AAPL) Intraday Four-Hour Data

   • In an empty cell (e.g., B2), type:
     =QM_GetIntradayDataFourHour("AAPL")
   • Press Enter. The function fetches data in four-hour segments and prints it below B2.

2. Retrieving Microsoft (MSFT) Intraday Four-Hour Data

   • In cell C2, type:
     =QM_GetIntradayDataFourHour("MSFT")
   • Press Enter. The data prints below C2, including time stamps and prices every four hours.

Advanced Scenarios

• Comparing Multiple Stocks Over the Same Four-Hour Blocks
If you want to compare the performance of multiple symbols, place the function in adjacent columns, each referencing a different symbol. This lets you track side-by-side trends for multiple stocks in a four-hour window.

• Integrating with Charting and Further Analysis
Once the data is populated, you can create Excel charts (like line charts or candlestick charts) to visualize intraday movements. Combine with other MarketXLS functions for more advanced technical studies on each interval.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

1. “No Data Retrieved” Message

   • This occurs if the symbol is invalid or if there was simply no available data for the specified intervals. Ensure that your symbol is correct and that trading data exists for those four-hour windows.

2. Overwriting Existing Cells

   • The function automatically places data beneath the active cell. If you have existing data there, it may be overwritten. It is best to call the function from a blank cell to avoid conflicts.

3. License or Configuration Errors

   • If your MarketXLS license is not active or properly configured, you may see an error message like “LicenseIsNotValidErrorMessage” or “not configured.” Make sure your data subscriptions are set up under MarketXLS Settings so the function can retrieve data.

4. Frequent Updates or Refreshes

   • By default, MarketXLS retrieves fresh data when Excel recalculates. If you need more frequent updates, configure your Excel’s recalculation options or manually trigger refreshes.

By leveraging fn_00990 (QM_GetIntradayDataFourHour), you gain a convenient way to visualize and analyze medium-range intraday trends on your favorite US stocks, all within Excel’s familiar interface. This streamlined approach keeps data organized and easy to interpret for real-time investment strategies or historical analyses.