BBG Terminal - How to maximize its use?

My firm recently switched over from an inferior data/software platform and now I have a terminal. I’m interested in hearing how this forum gets the most out of their Bloomberg terminal subscription. Do you guys reach out to Bloomberg analysts when ramping on a company or industry? Where do you see the most value-add in your analysis process with the terminal? I’m focused on equities but also interested in hearing from those in fixed income.

10 Comments
 

bump as i'm in the same issue

I know there's a course that bloomberg offer through their education platform but you might be able to get one-to-one training

 

Bloomberg has superior watchlist analytics. I recommend you start there — building your launchpad using multiple Ws (worksheets), graphic dashboard, PBAR, EQRV, DSCO, CN and GF/GP. I like to have total coverage + watchlist of ideas + watchlist of spreads + watchlist of supply chain or vertical groups. 

BI analysts are okay, good for some tidbits, but the real value is through their surveys & data sources (like IDC). 

Chatrooms are cancer but you can ask BI analysts and journos questions which is nice. 

MODL is getting close to VA functionality.

 

"My firm recently switched over from an inferior data/software platform" -> just say it's Refinitiv Eikon brah.

"I’m interested in hearing how this forum gets the most out of their Bloomberg terminal" -> snap a photo, with redbulls on the desk, then flex on the gram. Living high finance life. 

"Where do you see the most value-add in your analysis process with the terminal?". Serious answer, with my strategy, it's the options chain and volatility surface (for convenience, we recalc surface and everything on our own). Most data we use for modelling are from different sources, especially the APIs ones. Quite useful for some macro data stuff, curves/swap/etc. Other than that, we treat them as overpaid info dash with notifications.

 

It depends how close you are to your brokers / how much your firm pays to brokers. Get yourself added to broker pchats for your firm; talk to people, brokers that you are closer to etc. A lot of times brokers may blast quick news tidbits/flows commentary on pchats that they might not otherwise send on emails, other people who might not reply you on email might be easier to talk to on IB chat. 

Personally, I think the biggest value from the BBG terminal is the IB chat. 

 
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