Charting variance on Datastream

How to chart variance on
Datastream
Created by Lara Skelly, for the
University of Cape Town Libraries
Updated August 2010

The question:
• How to graph the variance
of the Dow Jones Industrial
Index with the variance of
the JSE All Share Index on
the same graph?

Open up Datastream, and select the Multiple
Series / Flexible Chart from the Analysis section.

This opens up the basket where you
can add the different series.

Choose the Expression Builder icon. It
looks like a little lightning bolt with two
round brackets.

Click on Tools and select Function.

This window will pop up. Select
Standard deviation [period] [SDN#]

The standard deviation will then be entered into
the Expression Builder. Click on the 50D which
stands for the period.

Change it to 1 Year (I don’t know why,
but the Datastream guys did that in
the example I had).

You will then see the 1Y in the Expression Builder. Next,
select the cell between the SDN# and 1Y. You will
notice that Find will no longer be grayed out. Click
there.

1

2

This window will pop up. Click on the
orange Find Series.

The familiar search screen appears. Search
for the first series (JSE All Share Index)

You will then see it added. Click OK.

The series will then appear in the
Expression Builder.

Give the expression a title, and click
Save.

You will then see the expression you
created in the Flexible Chart basket.

To add the second series (Dow Jones Industrial), select
Add New Entries Here and click on the Select from a list
button (it looks like f with a little x as a subscript)

2

1

This window will pop up. You should see
your saved expression at the bottom.
Select it , and click OK.

You will then see it in the Flexible Chart basket. Notice that it
only adds the Expression, not the series. This is then selected in
the usual way. Click on the orange Find Series button, and
search.
2

1

Once you have found your series, you will
see it in the Flexible Chart basket. Click Run
Now!
2

1

You will see your graph, which you can
then export.

As another example, this shows the Variance of
the Dow Jones Industrial Index charted with the
Total Returns Index.

Need more help? Ask a librarian. Email
Lara.Skelly@uct.ac.za or
Susanne.Noll@uct.ac.za.

Picture by Carlos Porto (Flickr)

Charting variance on Datastream

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