Could you tell me exactly (i.e. as much information as you can give) what the difference is between SM, @SM and +SM? Are they all for the same contract on the same exchange? I'd like to understand precisely how where the numbers come from to ensure that I'm using them correctly.

Also, there is data for, say, @SM# from 1996 until today but I can only see bars for 85% of the weekdays in that period. What is the reason for the gaps? For some contracts there can be gaps in the data of several months.

Thanks for your help.

Hello traps,

The difference between the symbols is the difference between the (traditional) CBOT pit sessions and the CBOT Globex (electronic) sessions for soybean meal. SM# is the CBOT pit symbol. @SM# is the CBOT Globex symbol and +SM# is a symbol that combines both.

Looking at the history of these symbols, Globex trading became dominant in roughly 2007 and is the main symbol to watch today. Before 2007, you will typically have better results looking at the data for the pit symbols. The +SM# was used to help accomodate the transition period, but is becoming less necessary.

Thanks Todd. That makes sense.

So just to be clear, does @ always refer to Globex for the CBOT contracts? How was it decided which number to use for + in the transition period?

The ICE US coffee contract (KC) only has @ data but going all the way back to 1996. Does that mean that it's been traded (only) electronically since then?

On a slightly separate subject, some of the historical data has large gaps in the time series. For example, ICE US coffee has a period of several months where the data is missing. What's the reason for this?

Hi Todd. Any idea about this one? I'm keen to figure out what's going on. Thanks.

Hello traps,

Yes, the @ sign gives you the Globex symbols for the CBOT. I do not understand the second question - the + sign combines both, pit and Globex data, not either/or.

I will report back on the coffee symbol question and, if you could give us specific date ranges for the coffee data gaps that you are seeing, we would be glad to check it out.

Hello,

I show that the daily data for @KC# in IQFeed goes back to March 20, 1996. Earlier this year, we merged the data so prior to roughly February of 2008, the quotes are from the pit symbols. The daily data after February of 2008 comes from the Globex contract.

> Yes, the @ sign gives you the Globex symbols for the CBOT. I do not understand
> the second question - the + sign combines both, pit and Globex data, not either/or.

I'm looking at closing prices (going back to 1996). I want to make sure I understand what the closing price means for the case of the + symbol. Is it just the last tick from whichever - pit or Globex happened to have the last trade that day? Or, for instance, an average of the last trade of each? I think you're saying that it's the first but I wanted to make absolutely sure.

> I show that the daily data for @KC# in IQFeed goes back to March 20, 1996.
> Earlier this year, we merged the data so prior to roughly February of 2008,
> the quotes are from the pit symbols. The daily data after February of 2008
> comes from the Globex contract.

So does that mean that @KC# has data merged from pit and Globex? I'm now confused again because I though that @ meant Globex only! For @KC# I can see a gap between 18th September 2002 and 18th December 2002. Are you seeing data for that period? If so I must be looking at it incorrectly.

Thanks

Hi Todd,

I've also been looking at the volumes for the wheat contract as another example (sorry for switching the thread so much). Prior to a time in early 2008 the pit and Globex volumes were separate numbers and the combined (+) volume was equal to the sum of the two - i.e. what I'd expect. But from early 2008 the pit and Globex volumes are set exactly equal to each other (with the combined volume still the sum of the two). Then in mid 2008 all three volumes collapse to exactly the same number (with the odd anomaly, such as the 13th March 2009). I'm sure it's all very simple but I'm afraid I'm still struggling to understand this.

Cheers

Hi traps,

I have asked our Market Data Services to look into the missing data for @KC# and help explain the volume history in wheat. I will have to report back on those.

And yes, @KC# uses pit symbol data for the older historical data and @KC# data for the newer (post-February 2008) data - as explained above.

Thanks again Todd. I still have a number of questions about this. Is it possible to talk to someone on the phone?

Yes, of course - please call us at 800-779-7299 or email us at Support@IQFeed.net . We will be glad to help.

Hi traps,

We are trying to obtain the missing 2002 data for @KC# to get that corrected.

For the composite symbols (+), we take the settlement price from whichever data
source provides it first - pit or electronic.

For agricultural products, it was an exchange decision to make the volumes the same
as of February 29, 2008 - not something that we did on our own. I hope that helps and,
again, feel free to call in or email.