Charts
Our share charting facility allows you to compare companies, investment trusts, Exchange Traded Funds, Corporate and Government Bonds and indices over different time periods.
Skip to frequently asked questions
Main settings
- Stock code
- Enter the EPIC code for the stock you wish to chart. If you do not know the EPIC code, click on the
icon and enter the stock name. - Period
- Use this feature to adjust the time period you wish to chart. Intra day pricing is displayed on charts up to 5 days.
- Type
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Choose the chart graphics from the drop down menu to suit your analysis:
Line – This is the default chart type, the line equals the closing bid price or percentage movement over a chosen period.
Area – Similar to a line chart but the area below the line is a solid block of colour.
Candlestick – Candlestick charts show four price points; the days opening, highest, lowest and the closing prices. The gap between the open and close prices is shown as a solid block. The high and low are represented by the thin lines on either end of the candle. A white block indicates that the close on a certain day was above the open, and a black block indicates the opposite.
HL – High Low shows two price points each day on a vertical line with the top and bottom representing the highest and lowest prices respectively.
OHLC – Open/High/Low/Close charts show four price points for each day on a vertical line; the days opening, highest, lowest and the closing prices. The top and bottom of the line represent the high and low respectively. Notches on the left and right of the line represent the open and close respectively. This chart is best viewed over a one month timescale.
Logarithmic – The price scale (on the Y axis) is skewed so that a given change in time always represents the same percentage change in price.
Comparisons
- Index
- Use this function to compare a stock against an index.
- Sector
- Compare against a stock sector. The EPIC code is listed in brackets after the name of each stock sector. To check which sector a stock is in, go to 'Further Information' in the fact sheet price tab.
- Stock code
- Add an additional stock to compare.
Indicators
- Moving averages
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Moving averages are used to establish a trend in a stocks performance over a period of time by smoothing out day to day fluctuations. They can also be used to identify the start of a new trend and the end of an old trend.
There are three categories of moving average available and up to three lines can be added with frequencies between 9 and 200 days.
Simple – Calculated by taking the arithmetic mean of prices over a given period i.e. the last 9 days.
Exponential – Gives greater weight to the most recent prices. Unlike simple and weighted moving averages it will take into account all available prices for a particular stock rather than just the period in the moving average range.
Weighted – This is similar to the 'Simple' method of calculating moving averages but more importance is assigned to the most recent prices in the range.
- Show annotations
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Annotations add points to the chart and are used to provide an insight into stock price movements. A key for these annotations is not currently available.
Director deals – This will mark days on which a stock has been either bought or sold by a company director.
ShareCast news – Share news provided by ShareCrest.
Broker tips – Consensus tips from a group of stockbrokers.
Newspaper tips – Tips from a selection of newspapers.
Reg news – Regulatory news can be seen on a chart up to a 6 month period.
- Overlay
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MA envelopes – A simple moving average line can be enhanced by putting a percentage envelope on either side of it. Our lines are displayed 20% above and 10% below the moving average line.
Bollinger bands – Bollinger bands are lines displayed around a moving average line. The upper line is displayed 2 standard deviations above the moving average and the lower line is displayed 2 standard deviations below the moving average.
- Lower indicators
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Volume – The number of shares traded each day represented on a bar chart.
Volume (+) – Uses coloured bars to indicate days in which the total number of shares traded is up, down or unchanged over a selected time period.
Momentum – Displays, as a ratio, the rate of change of a securities price over the selected time span.
Change on day – The change on day is equivalent to a 1-day momentum calculation. It plots the change in price between each day and the previous day.
Rate of change – The rate of change is a ratio calculated as the price divided by the price X days ago and displayed as a percentage. The centre line is at 100, so a value below this means that the price was lower X days ago, and a value above this means that the price was higher.
RSI – The Relative Strength Index (RSI) measures a share price relative to itself and its recent history. It is calculated as the average of the prices for days where the price rose divided by the average of the prices for days where the price fell. The RSI ranges between 0 and 100.
MACD – The Moving Average Convergence/Divergence indicator is an oscillator based on two exponential moving averages of a share price. Three lines are shown. The "MACD" line is calculated as the difference between the two moving averages (this is based on 12- and 26- or 18- and 36- day averages). The "signal" line is a 9-day smoothed average of the standard MACD line, and is sometimes referred to as the "slow" MACD line.
Fast stochastic – The Stochastic Oscillator is a momentum indicator that shows the location of the current close price relative to the high/low price range over a set number of periods. The Stochastic Oscillator is made up of two lines that oscillate between a vertical scale of 0 to 100. The %K is the main line and it is drawn as a solid line. The second is the %D line and is a moving average of %K. The %D line is drawn as a dotted line. The Fast Stochastic is the average of the last three %K.
Slow stochastic – Stochastic indicators compare the point at which a securities price closes relative to a price range over a specifically identified period of time. Slow stochastic applies a simple moving average to reduce volatility.
%K compares the latest closing price of a security to the recent trading range.
%D is a signal line calculated by smoothing % K.Williams %R – Is a momentum indicator used to establish whether a stock is overbought or oversold. %R is plotted upside-down 0% to -100%. Readings in the range of 80 to 100% indicate that the security is oversold while readings in the 0 to 20% range suggest that it is overbought.
True range – This is a determinant of the volatility of a stock price based on the True Range High and True Range Low.
Volatility fast – The percentage change in the price of a security between its lowest and highest price.
Volatility slow – The percentage price change of a security between its lowest and highest price. Volatility slow is a 9 day smoothed average of the volatility line.
Volume accumulation– measures a proportional volume based on the relationship between the closing price and the intra day mean price.
Prospective EPS – The consensus estimate from brokers of the earnings per share a company will announce with full year results.
Prospective dividend – The consensus estimate from brokers of the dividend a company will announce with full year results.
RiskGrade – The RiskGrade is a measure of risk calculated by RiskMetrics based on asset-specific information and general market conditions. The average RiskGrade for the FTSE 100 index is about 100.
On balance volume – A technical indicator calculated by keeping a running total of the volume of trades. When the price closes higher or lower than the previous day the volume is added or subtracted respectively.
Money flow – A volume indicator that combines positive and negative volume with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) calculation. Money flow is defined as the typical daily price times today's volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EPIC code?
Also called a TIDM or Mnemonic. The EPIC code is a short stock code which will usually contain three or four letters. This can be found in the London Stock Exchange company listings.
I do not know the EPIC code, how can I find the company I am looking for?
Use the lookup function and try entering the first three digits of the stock name or enter part of the company name to search.
Why can't I find the stock I am looking for?
The share charting facility includes a comprehensive list of main market and AIM listed UK stocks. It is also possible to view a number of PLUS Markets, North American and European securities, price data is not always available for stocks listed outside the UK. To search for a foreign stock try using the EPIC code rather than the lookup function.
How do I clear the chart?
To clear the chart press 'Reset'. It is possible to change the analytical tools applied by selecting the alternative and clicking on the 'Update' button.
How do I compare more than one additional stock?
It is possible to compare multiple stocks by entering the EPIC codes separated by a comma in the Comparisons- Stock code box e.g. MKS,BP.,LLOY.
How can I compare shares with managed funds?
Unfortunately managed funds cannot be added within the Share charting facility. Please use the fund charts to compare Unit Trusts/OEICs against shares.
How do I see prices on the chart rather than percentages?
If you are plotting more than one stock the performance will be shown as a percentage. To view price performance you will need to select one stock only.
How many lower indicators can I add?
Up to three lower indicators can be added, to clear these reset the chart.