Shareware Grab Bag/Shareware Grab Bag.iso/005/stkchart.arc/SMENTRY2.HS3

Text File | 1985-11-11 | 5.9 KB | 115 lines

                   DESCRIPTION OF BAR GRAPH SCREEN (1 of 5)

The bar graph has two vertical scales; the upper part shows high/low/closing
prices and moving averages, and the lower part shows the sales volume in
THOUSANDS of shares.  Each vertical bar represents data for one trading period
(day or week).  Each price bar is directly above its corresponding volume bar.
The most current data is represented by the rightmost bars; the earliest data
is represented by the leftmost bars.

A price bar represents the low (or bid) and high (or ask) prices for that
period.  The closing price is shown as a tick-mark on the RIGHT side of each
price bar.  The first moving average (if used) is shown as a horizontal dotted
line, or a tick-mark on the LEFT side of the price bar.  The last moving
average (if used) is shown as a horizontal solid line.  The stock prices and
moving averages all use the same scale, on the upper right-hand side of the
screen.
                                    high
      Enlarged view of price bar:     |
                                      |-  <--- closing price tick-mark
                                      |
      moving average tick-mark --->  -|
                                      |
                                     low
                   DESCRIPTION OF BAR GRAPH SCREEN (2 of 5)

The two top lines and one bottom line of the bar graph are used for captions.
These captions are a little different between the screen format and the print
format.  This is because on the screen, the bottom line is needed for the
"menu", but on the printer the bottom line can be used for added information.

The top line on the screen always shows the name of the stock (or other
security).  In addition, on the printer it shows the symbol and exchange.
On the screen it shows the number of days or weeks (D or W) and the date
through which volume and prices are displayed.  For example 90D 08-16-85 means
90 days of data ending Aug. 16, 1985; and 54W means 54 weeks.

The second line from the top has the price/earnings ratio, yield, annual
potential return and stop limit in that order from left to right.  It is
described further on the next screen, along with the formulas used.

The bottom line on the print format shows, in a less cryptic format, the range
and number of dates which are depicted on the chart.




                   DESCRIPTION OF BAR GRAPH SCREEN (3 of 5)

This is the format of the information on the second line of the bar graph:

                   PE=aaaa Y=bbbb  lo% TO hi%   STOP=##.###

    aaaa  is the Price/Earnings ratio which is simply the most current stock
          price divided by the earnings.  If the P/E ratio is less than .1
          or greater than 99.5 it is shown as NMF (No Meaningful Figure).

    bbbb  is the Yield, which is Dividends divided by the most current stock
          price and expressed as a percentage.

lo% TO hi%  is the annualized potential return (low and high values) expressed
          as a percentage.  This represents stock price appreciation compounded
          annually over the next five years, plus dividend yield.  The formula
          is described on the next screen.

  ##.###  is the stop limit (or other limit) which is entered in the Add/Delete
          Stocks program.  The program doesn't do anything with this number
          except display it.  If you don't use a stop limit, consider using it
          for something else, such as the net price you paid for the stock.

                   DESCRIPTION OF BAR GRAPH SCREEN (4 OF 5)

Here is the formula the program uses to compute annualized potential return:

               APR = ((( EP / CP ) ^ ( 1 / N )) - 1 ) x 100 + Y

where APR is annualized potential return, EP is expected price after N periods,
CP is current price, N is the number of periods (5 years), Y is the percentage
yield and ^ is a symbol which denotes exponentiation (the raising of a number
to a power).

Typing one of the following letter keys will invoke the corresponding function:

E  = ENTER volume and prices. This will take you back to the data entry screen.

S  = SELECT another stock.  This will take you back to the stock select screen.
     Moving average periods will revert back to their permanent values.

H  = HELP.  Displays the screens you are looking at now.

Q  = QUIT the stock charting system and exit to DOS, so you can run a different
     program system, make a backup copy of a disk, etc.

                   DESCRIPTION OF BAR GRAPH SCREEN (5 OF 5)

P  = PRINT the chart on an Epson FX-80 or compatible printer such as some
     Okidata models with the "plug-and-play" option.  The correct DOS option
     must have been specified in the Setup screen, which is in the Add/Delete
     Stocks program, for this function to operate correctly.  Make sure the
     printer is on line first, and that its "ready" light is glowing.
     The printer page will eject automatically when the chart is done.

     Under DOS version 2 or higher, the GRAPHICS program is required to have
     been run before starting the stock charting system.  (GRAPHICS is a part
     of DOS).  The printing process will take about a minute.  The bar graph
     will print "right side up" and will occupy about 60% of the page height.
     Once printing has started, it cannot be interrupted with the Esc key.

     Under DOS version 1, the process will require about 5 to 8 minutes.  The
     printed chart will be rotated 90 degrees.  To center the graph on a
     standard 8 1/2 by 11-inch sheet, set the top edge of the sheet even with
     the edge of the scale bar on the printer.  You can terminate the printing
     process at any time by pressing the Esc key.  If printing is in progress,
     it will stop after the next line.  This process will also function with
     DOS version 2 or higher if you want the somewhat larger bar chart.