New database: ASSET4 ESG

Yesterday a new database became available which has infomation on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The database provides environmental, social and governance (ESG) information based on 250+ key performance indicators (KPIs) and 750+ individual data points along with their original data sources. Asset 4 ESG covers +4500 listed companies including the S&P 500, Russell 1000, MSCI Europe, FTSE 250, ASX 300, the MSCI World Index and the 250 MSCI emerging markets companies. For a more comprehensive overview of the new database you can read the brochure.

Looking up data in ASSET4 ESG can be done using the Datastream software on computers on the Vrije Universiteit campus. The Datastream software support is provided by the Data Center of the university library. Online support is available through the Data Center course in Blackboard.

Data Center courses

The Data Center of the UL provides help and support to students as well as teachers and researchers in finding economic and financial data.

• Basic course databases
  Presentation of the services of the Data Center followed by some exercises using financial databases. This includes the basics of translating a research question into a concrete data need.
  • Thursday 23 January (11:00 - 13:00)
  • Thursday 6 February (13:00 - 15:00)
  • Thursday 24 April (9:30 - 11:30)
  • Thursday 24 April (14:00 - 16:00)
  
  
• Combining databases
  Presentation of the services of the Data Center followed by exercises using the financial databases Compustat and Datastream. This includes basic searches and working with lists. The course teaches you some of the basics using two databases as an example. The focus of the course is on stock information and finding company data in two data bases.
  • Tuesday 10 June (9:30 - 11:30)
  • Tuesday 12 June (9:30 - 12:00)
  
  
• SDC Platinum
  The database is an interface that offers access to databases on Mergers & Acquisitions, Global New Issues, and Venture Capital. The course teaches you how to use the interface to find and retrieve data. (Beginners level; in English).
  • Thursday 16 January (9:30 - 10:30)
  • Wednesday 22 January (10:00 -11:00)
  • Thursday 30 January (10:00 - 11:00)
  • Wednesday 26 February (10:00 - 11:00)
  • Thursday 13 March (10:00 - 11:00)
  • Tuesday 25 March (10:00 - 11:00)
  • Wednesday 14 May (10:00 - 11:00)
  • Thursday 15 May (13:00 - 14:00)
  
  
• Datastream
  Presentation of the basic functions and options for Datastream. Exercises include basic searches, working with lists and Requests Tables. Datastream is a database with financial data from stock exchanges, annual reports as well as economics country data. The course teaches you how to use the Navigator software effectively and efficiently to find and download data. (Beginners level; in English).
  • Wednesday 15 January (10:00 - 12:00)
  • Tuesday 28 January (10:00 - 12:00)
  • Tuesday 11 February (9:30 - 11:30)
  • Thursday 27 February (9:00 - 11:00)
  • Wednesday 12 March (10:00 - 12:00)
  • Thursday 27 March (9:30 - 11:30)
  • Tuesday 6 May (10:00 - 12:00)
  • Thursday 8 May (9:30 - 11:30)
  • Thursday 15 May (9:30 - 11:30)

More information on these courses will become available through the Agenda on the library website. You will be able to sign up for the course(s) through the agenda. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Data Center helpdesk during the holidays

Due to the Holidays the opening hours of the helpdesk for the next few weeks will be as follows:

• 2013 Week 52 (23 - 27 December):
  • Tuesday 24 December: 10 am - 1 pm
  • Wednesday 25 December: closed
  • Friday 27 December: closed

• 2014 Week 1 (30 December - 3 January):
  • Library / Data Center closed

• 2014 Week 2 (6 January - 10 January):
  • Tuesday 7 January: 1 - 4 pm
  • Wednesday 8 January: closed
  • Thursday 9 January: 1 - 4 pm
  • Friday 10 January: closed.

Starting with Week 3 the helpdesk will be open as usual again:

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 1 - 4 pm.

N.B.: The opening hours of the university library during the holidays are available on the library website.

Fixed: Compustat Global Index constituent bug

For the past month the search option for indexes in the Compustat Global Index Constituents database was suffering from an operational bug. The search option is called Code Lookup and is available at search step 2 through the WRDS search portal. The bug made it impossible to search for the index codes through Code Lookup. The WRDS development team has now reported that they fixed this bug. We have tested this and the bug looks indeed to be gone.

It is therefore possible again to lookup ticker and GVKEYX codes for indexes and sector indexes through Code Lookup.

Datastream software problems

Datastream software is installed at many computers on the VU University campus. The software can be used to download time series data on many financial and economic subjects. The past few months there have been problems with using the Datastream software. The IT software team at the university has been working very hard to fix the problems and is now testing and packaging a new updated version of the software.

We expect that this solution will be implemented at the start of December at the latest. If you need help downloading data in the short term you can contact the Data Center (Tel. 020-59 85166, email: datacentrum.ub@vu.nl).

Opening hours Data Center back to normal !

The opening hours of the Data Center helpdesk temporarily changed during October because of the holidays. Starting next week (from 3 November) the opening hours of the Data Center will be again as they were:

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 13:00 and 16:00 pm
  
  
• The Data Center Helpdesk will be closed on Thursdays!

The information and support of financial and socio/economic databases through the Data enter blackboard course is available at all times (except for during maintenance).

Error in code lookup Compustat Global - index constituents

Dear customer,

The search option (code lookup) for indexes (step 2) in the WRDS Global, Index Constituents database is suffering from an operational bug. This make sit impossible to search for indexes. The WRDS development team is currently fixing this.

To help us out, they have provided us with a list of Index GVkey codes, which can be used instead of the search menu. (just fill in, and check the gvkey code box in step 2)

A list of GVkeys codes follows.
GVKkey codes Index name

Thank you for understanding