Real-Time Streaming Bid Prices for Your Excel Models

The QM_Stream_Bid function (fn_00006) is a powerful tool within MarketXLS that retrieves streaming, real-time bid prices directly in Excel. By simply referencing a ticker symbol, you can harness continuous market data without manual refreshes. This is particularly valuable for traders, analysts, and portfolio managers who need instant bid-price updates to make informed decisions on fast-moving instruments such as equities, forex, and futures.

Use QM_Stream_Bid to build live dashboards, automate trading strategies, or create interactive financial reports. With market validation, symbol formatting, and licensing checks built-in, you’ll enjoy accurate, real-time bid data all in one place.

Why Use This Function?

• Eliminates Manual Refreshing
  Automatically updates your Excel sheets as soon as new bid prices become available—no manual data pulls required.
• Maintains Data Accuracy
  Respects your subscription limits, checks licensing, and ensures real-time quotes are valid for your chosen symbol.
• Best for High-Frequency Applications
  Suitable for environments where split-second decisions rely on always-current bid data, including day trading and algorithmic strategy designs.
• Integrates Seamlessly with MarketXLS
  Works with existing functions (like QM_Stream_Ask or QM_Stream_LastPrice) to provide complete market data coverage.
• Flexible for Experienced and Novice Users
  Front-end workbook usage is as simple as typing a formula, while power users can leverage VBA and custom macros for automation.

How to Use in Excel

=QM_Stream_Bid(symbol)

• symbol: The required string parameter representing the ticker or instrument identifier (e.g., “AAPL”).
• The function checks whether the symbol is valid and, if so, subscribes to a real-time data feed that updates continuously.
• If MarketXLS detects license or setup issues, an informative error message is returned. Otherwise, the cell displays the current bid price, refreshing whenever MarketXLS receives new data from the provider.

Parameters Explained

• symbol (string)

• Returns “NA” if the symbol fails validation (checkSymbol).
• Could display error messages for licensing or configuration issues.
• Blank or whitespace input results in an empty output (“”).

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. Streaming U.S. Stock Bid Price

   =QM_Stream_Bid("AAPL")
   • Tracks Apple’s real-time bid price.
   • If Apple is trading at 180.25 (bid), Excel updates automatically as it changes (e.g., 180.30, 180.20, etc.).

2. Forex Bid Price

   =QM_Stream_Bid("EURUSD")
   • Displays consistent updates for the Euro-to-U.S. Dollar currency pair.
   • Handy for Forex traders who monitor intraday fluctuations.

3. Commodity Futures

   =QM_Stream_Bid("CL")
   • Shows the live bid for Crude Oil futures contracts.
   • Ideal for commodity traders who track high-volume markets.

4. Invalid or Unknown Symbol

   =QM_Stream_Bid("ABCXYZ123")
   • Returns "NA" if the symbol is unrecognized.
   • Could return “ERR” for network errors or “License is not valid” if the subscription is invalid.

Advanced Scenarios

1. Live Trading Dashboard with Multiple Tickers

   • In one sheet, use:
   =QM_Stream_Bid("AAPL") in A2
   =QM_Stream_Bid("MSFT") in A3
   =QM_Stream_Bid("AMZN") in A4
   • Combine with Excel’s conditional formatting to highlight price drops below a certain threshold.
   • Great for real-time watchlists where each cell updates concurrently, perfect for day-trading setups.

2. Automating a Stop-Loss Strategy in VBA

   • Step 1: Store =QM_Stream_Bid("AAPL") in cell B2.
   • Step 2: Have a VBA macro that checks B2 every second.
   • Step 3: If the bid price dips below your designated threshold, automatically fire off an API call or show an alert.
   • Ensures quick reaction times for fast-moving markets.

3. Risk Management & Mark-to-Market Valuations

   • List all open positions in Excel: AAPL, GOOGL, TSLA, etc.
   • Next to each symbol, run QM_Stream_Bid to pull real-time bid quotes.
   • Use another column to calculate current P&L.
   • Ideal for portfolio managers or prop desks needing near-instant valuations.

4. Integrating With Other MarketXLS Functions

   • Combine QM_Stream_Bid with historical data or technical indicators for more nuanced dashboards.
   • Example: Compare real-time bid to a 50-day moving average (queried via a separate MarketXLS function) to highlight unusual fluctuations.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

• Why am I seeing “NA” instead of a price?

• The symbol is likely invalid or unrecognized by your data provider. Double-check spelling or format.
• The CheckSymbol() routine also returns “NA” for blank or non-existent symbols.

• What if I get an error message or “ERR”?

• An internal exception or network problem may have occurred. The function logs the issue (LogMessageToFile) for diagnostics.
• Also verify that your MarketXLS license is active and configured (IsLicenseValid = True, Me.IsActive = True).

• Do I need to refresh my workbook to update the price?

• No. This is a streaming function driven by RTD. Excel cells update automatically whenever a new quote is pushed by the data feed.

• Can I subscribe to thousands of symbols at once?

• Each subscription (QueueRTDSymbols) consumes resources. If you exceed your plan’s symbol limit or your system’s capacity, performance may suffer. Use RTDUnsubscribeAll or close unused workbooks to manage overhead.

• How does licensing affect this function?

• If IsLicenseValid() = False, you’ll see an error message—“License is not valid.” You must have the correct real-time data entitlements in your MarketXLS account.

Remember:

• Pass in a valid ticker symbol recognized by your data provider.
• Ensure your MarketXLS license is active and your data feed is properly configured.
• Keep an eye on symbol subscription limits, especially in high-volume use.
• RTD streaming automatically updates the Excel cells, so no manual refresh is required.

This comprehensive approach to QM_Stream_Bid (fn_00006) should equip you with the knowledge to incorporate live bid quotes into your Excel workflow. By leveraging real-time streaming data, you’ll be able to respond quickly, automate trading logic, and analyze intraday movements for various instruments—right inside Excel.