Advanced Charts Help


Welcome to AOL's Advanced Charts -- now in BETA. You'll love this version of charting as it's packed with cool features. Using the advanced chart, you'll have access to decades of price data for tens of thousands of securities. The following pointers will help you get the most out of the new charts experience.

Timeframes

Charts are available representing intraday and historical prices depending on your security's pricing frequency (i.e.- Mutual Funds price once a day, and therefore are not available intraday). There are several ways you can select a timeframe to view.

  • Use the handy links above the chart
  • create a custom timeframe by selecting "custom date range" and entering your start and end dates into the calendar
  • Drag or Zoom the chart image by selecting the magnify or hand icon in the upper right of the chart
  • Use the full trading history chart -- or "slider" -- located under the volume chart to select start and end dates. Simply click and hold on the rectangular gripper and slide either left or right to create your custom timeframe.

advanced chart


Trading History Chart

Underneath the price and volume chart you'll see another chart. This chart displays the entire closing price history for the security you are viewing. Not only can this chart help you change your timeframe, it offers you a quick glance at the overall trend of the security.

trading history

Interactivity

Our new advanced charts are fully interactive to help you get the most out of your chart experience. Types of interaction include:

  • Mouse-over -- simply move your mouse over the main part of the chart to see data balloons. For an intraday chart, these balloons will display the date and time, price and volume for each interval plotted. Historical chart balloons include the date, high, low, open, close and volume.
    mouse over data balloon

  • Zoom -- Want to focus in on an area in the chart? Click on the magnifying glass above the chart. Then click and drag over the area you'd like a closer look at. To exit zoom mode, click on the arrow cursor icon located to the left of the magnify icon.
  • Scroll -- To scroll the chart in either direction (ie- if you are looking at a 1 year chart, and want to look at the month preceding your chart) click the hand icon located above the chart. Click on a section of the chart and pull to the left or right. To exit scroll mode, click on the arrow cursor icon located to the left of the magnify icon.
  • Overlays -- AOL offers several overlays for use in building the perfect chart. Above the chart image, you'll see a blue tab that reads "Add to Chart" with an arrow. Click the arrow and you'll be presented with various items you can overlay on your chart. Overlays include moving averages in varying timeframes and events (such as earnings, dividends, splits and change in analyst consensus). We are working on adding several more in the near future.

chart overlay

Comparisons

You can select as many as 15 other stocks or indices against which to compare your selected security. For stocks, you can also choose to plot it's industry or sector against the performance of the stock you are interested in. It's easy to do!

Simply click on the blue "Compare with" tab above the chart image and select your preferences by clicking in the checkbox to the left of your choice. Want to add something you don't see in this list? Enter the ticker symbol into the input field, click the green "Add" button, and we'll add it to your chart.

To remove something from your chart, simply click in the checkbox. Or remove entire types of comparisons by using the "clear all" link above each comparison column.

stock chart comparison sample

Display Settings

Set your display preferences by selecting from the options in the "Display Settings" tab. Click on the arrow and an array of options will appear for you to choose from. Whatever you choose here will be persistent across all charts you view. At any time if you'd like to change your settings, you may do so by accessing the "Display Settings" tab again.

Downloading Data

All price data used to build charts is available for download. To download the data, simply click on the Historical Data link in the upper right of the chart image. You will then be offered 4 popular format options you may choose from.

It is important to note that the data available for download is limited to the price data of the primary security you are reviewing. If you have added several additional securities to your chart for comparison purposes, the price data that builds your comparison price lines will not be downloaded.

Technical Indicators

Coming Soon! We'll be adding technical indicators to the Advanced Chart in the future. Please feel free to provide your feedback as to what indicators you use most by using the feedback link provided to the left.