Symbology

Charting the correct security is critical. We've built in a number of options when it comes to symbology; choose the option that works best for your situation.

Each client or organization using Chartworks is only allowed to select one of the following symbology methods and must use that protocol whenever rendering a chart. For example you are not allowed to sometimes pass your symbols using Option 1 and at other times use Option 2.

Option 1: Exchange Symbol + Exchange Code

By default, you can pass the official exchange symbol and the corresponding exchange code into the charts (method depends on which chart you are using) to plot your desired security. Each exchange has an official symbol for securities that trade on said exchange. Chartworks publishes a list of exchange codes, see the full list of supported exchange codes below. The combination of exchange symbol and exchange code creates a unique pair that allows Markit Digital to chart the correct security.

An extra word on the exchange codes. These codes are specific to Chartworks, we try and use to most common acronym/abbreviation for an exchange but our codes may vary slightly vs other sources so please check our list.

If you do not have easy access to an exchange symbol set or you do not wish to maintain such a symbol set see Option 2 & 3.

Exchange Codes

• "NYSE" for New York Stock Exchange (USA)
• "NSQ" for NASDAQ (USA)
• "BAT" for BATS BZX TOP (USA)
• "ICQ" for IEX Investor's Exchange (USA)
• "LSE" for London Stock Exchange (England)
• "ASX" for Australian Securities Exchange (Australia)
• "XAMS" for Euronext - Amsterdam (Netherlands)
• "XBRU" for Euronext - Brussels (Belgium)
• "XLIS" for Euronext - Lisbon (Portugal)
• "XPAR" for Euronext - Paris (France)
• "GER" for Deutsche Börse AG (Germany)
• "MIL" for Borsa Italiana (Italy)
• "MCE" for Bolsa de Madrid (Spain)
• "NCOP" for NASDAQ Nordic - Copenhagen (Denmark)
• "NHEL" for NASDAQ Nordic - Helsinki (Finland)
• "NICE" for NASDAQ Nordic - Iceland (Iceland)
• "NSTO" for NASDAQ Nordic - Stockholm (Sweden)
• "NGO" for the Nagoya Stock Exchange (Japan)
• "TYO" for the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Japan)

Example: Apple on the NASDAQ

To find the official NASDAQ symbol for Apple we can visit NASDAQ's site and look up Apple. We find that the official symbol for Apple is "AAPL".

For the exchange codes we check the list of supported exchange codes and find that NASDAQ's code is "NSQ".

Thus to plot Apple on the NASDAQ on the chart we would pass:

symbol = AAPL
exchange = NSQ

Example: BP plc on the LSE

To find the official London Stock Exchange (LSE) symbol for BP plc we can visit LSE's site and look up BP. We find that the official symbol for BP plc is "BP.". Note the dot after BP!

For the exchange codes we check the list of supported exchange codes and find that LSE's code is "LSE".

Thus to plot BP plc on the LSE on the chart we would pass:

symbol = BP.
exchange = LSE

Option 2: Commonly Known Symbol Set

If you currently license a symbol set that Markit already has integrated you are free to pass that as the symbol. For example, if you are licensed for Reuters Instrument Code (RIC) then we can use this as the symbol set. Written proof of license to symbol set will be needed prior to using this option.

Only symbol sets with unique identifiers are eligible to use for this option.

For example, the CUSIP Symbol for Apple trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is 037833100. The CUSIP Symbol for Apple trading on the NASDAQ is also 037833100. Therefore, CUSIP is not an allowed symbol set for Option 2 because it is not unique across exchanges. However, the RIC Symbol for Apple trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is AAPL.F. The RIC Symbol for Apple trading on the NASDAQ is also AAPL.O. Therefore RIC is an allowed symbol set for Option 2.

Chartworks does not publicly disclose the symbol sets we currently have in-house. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about this symbology option and which symbol sets we already have in-house.

Some clients may specify a country code along with a symbol when using a common symbol set, to distinguish between the same symbols trading on different markets.

Option 3: Custom Symbol Set

The third option is for Markit Digital to create a custom symbol set for your organization or for us to integrate your custom symbol set via files or through an API. Since this option is 'custom' there are many ways we can do this, please contact us if you are interested in learning more about this option.

Some clients may specify a country code along with a symbol when using a custom symbol set, to distinguish between the same symbols trading on different markets.