getBars doesn't work for equities

[MislavSag]

I am trying to get historical (bar) data using getBars function.
The function works for SPX:

getBars("SPX Index")

but it doesn't work for equities:

getBars("GOOG Equity")

The error:

REQUEST FAILED: responseError = { source = "bbdbl2" code = 15 category = "BAD_SEC" message = "Unknown/Invalid security [nid:15842] " subcategory = "INVALID_SECURITY" }
[1] times     open      high      low       close     numEvents volume    value    
<0 rows> (or 0-length row.names)

I have tried some other equity symbols but got the same error.

[johnlaing]

I have no issues with your call on GOOG. You'll need to give us some more information/attempt to isolate the issue:

• Can you try the call with verbose=TRUE? Please paste the full console output.
• Are you able to call other functions using these equity symbols?
• Can you narrow down more which types of securities work and which fail?

[MislavSag]

1. If I set verbose to TRUE:

getBars("GOOG Equity", startTime = as.POSIXct("2022-07-04 15:00:00"), verbose = TRUE)

I get:

Sending Request: IntradayBarRequest = { security = "GOOG Equity" eventType = TRADE interval = 60 startDateTime = 2022-07-04T13:00:00 endDateTime = 2022-07-06T04:15:51 }
Processing Response
REQUEST FAILED: responseError = { source = "bbdbl7" code = 15 category = "BAD_SEC" message = "Unknown/Invalid security [nid:758] " subcategory = "INVALID_SECURITY" }
[1] times     open      high      low       close     numEvents volume    value    
<0 rows> (or 0-length row.names)

2. I have tried "GOOG Equity" with bhm function and it seems it doesn't work either. For example this works:

spx <- bdh(securities = "SPX Index", 
           fields = "PX_LAST", 
           start.date = as.Date("2000-03-01"))

but this:

bdh(securities = "GOOG Equity", 
    fields = "PX_LAST", 
    start.date = as.Date("2000-03-01"),
    verbose = TRUE)

returns:

HistoricalDataResponse = {
    securityData = {
        security = "GOOG Equity"
        eidData[] = {
        }
        sequenceNumber = 0
        securityError = {
            source = "52892:rsfhdsvc1"
            code = 15
            category = "BAD_SEC"
            message = "Unknown/Invalid securityInvalid Security [nid:52892]"
            subcategory = "INVALID_SECURITY"
        }
        fieldExceptions[] = {
        }
        fieldData[] = {
        }
    }
}
[1] date    PX_LAST
<0 rows> (or 0-length row.names)

I have just begun with Bloomberg Desktop API. Maybe market data for is not enabled. I will check with bloomberg support.

3. I have tried to add currency too, but it doesn't work either:

instruments <- c("SPX Index", "GOOG Equity", "EURUSD Crncy")
lapply(instruments, getBars, startTime = as.POSIXct("2022-07-04 15:00:00"), verbose = TRUE)

returns:

Sending Request: IntradayBarRequest = { security = "SPX Index" eventType = TRADE interval = 60 startDateTime = 2022-07-04T13:00:00 endDateTime = 2022-07-06T04:22:09 }
Processing Response
Response contains 7 bars
Datetime		Open		High		Low		Close		NumEvents	Volume		V
7/5/2022 13:30		3792.610		3792.610		3742.060		3756.190		3600		0		0.000
7/5/2022 14:30		3755.890		3774.550		3743.640		3750.240		3600		0		0.000
7/5/2022 15:30		3749.830		3783.500		3747.270		3779.420		3600		0		0.000
7/5/2022 16:30		3779.560		3786.360		3765.410		3782.770		3600		0		0.000
7/5/2022 17:30		3782.820		3803.440		3780.390		3802.360		3600		0		0.000
7/5/2022 18:30		3802.550		3826.640		3802.550		3824.450		3600		0		0.000
7/5/2022 19:30		3824.340		3832.190		3819.500		3831.390		2700		0		0.000
Sending Request: IntradayBarRequest = { security = "GOOG Equity" eventType = TRADE interval = 60 startDateTime = 2022-07-04T13:00:00 endDateTime = 2022-07-06T04:22:10 }
Processing Response
REQUEST FAILED: responseError = { source = "bbdbl8" code = 15 category = "BAD_SEC" message = "Unknown/Invalid security [nid:203] " subcategory = "INVALID_SECURITY" }
Sending Request: IntradayBarRequest = { security = "EURUSD Crncy" eventType = TRADE interval = 60 startDateTime = 2022-07-04T13:00:00 endDateTime = 2022-07-06T04:22:10 }
Processing Response
REQUEST FAILED: responseError = { source = "bbdbl4" code = 15 category = "BAD_SEC" message = "Unknown/Invalid security [nid:203] " subcategory = "INVALID_SECURITY" }
[[1]]
                times    open    high     low   close numEvents volume value
1 2022-07-05 13:30:00 3792.61 3792.61 3742.06 3756.19      3600      0     0
2 2022-07-05 14:30:00 3755.89 3774.55 3743.64 3750.24      3600      0     0
3 2022-07-05 15:30:00 3749.83 3783.50 3747.27 3779.42      3600      0     0
4 2022-07-05 16:30:00 3779.56 3786.36 3765.41 3782.77      3600      0     0
5 2022-07-05 17:30:00 3782.82 3803.44 3780.39 3802.36      3600      0     0
6 2022-07-05 18:30:00 3802.55 3826.64 3802.55 3824.45      3600      0     0
7 2022-07-05 19:30:00 3824.34 3832.19 3819.50 3831.39      2700      0     0

[[2]]
[1] times     open      high      low       close     numEvents volume    value    
<0 rows> (or 0-length row.names)

[[3]]
[1] times     open      high      low       close     numEvents volume    value    
<0 rows> (or 0-length row.names)

I will try to contact Bloomberg support. and send feedback here.

[MislavSag]

Important update:

Seems the function works if I use cusip number. For AAPL:

# this works
getBars("/cusip/037833100", startTime = as.POSIXct("2022-07-04 15:00:00"), verbose = TRUE)

# this doesn't work
getBars("AAPL Equity", startTime = as.POSIXct("2022-07-04 15:00:00"), verbose = TRUE)

[csrvermaak]

You have to specify the Exchange code as well (US in the case of Apple).

Try again with this ticker: AAPL US Equity

[MislavSag]

Works with US.

[eddelbuettel]

I think that is a general feature with equity tickers so we can probably close this.