How do I convert different codes for unit trusts?

peter021072

I'm trying to convert from Yahoo symbols to Epic/Sedol/ISIN. For example in Yahoo LF Gresham House UK Smaller Companies Fund C Accumulation, has this code has a symbol (0P0001F6KM.L)  However in other lists it can be quoted with an EPIC LIUYA, Sedol BH416G5 or ISIN code GB00BH416G53

I think Europeans use ISIN, Americans use CUSIP and UK use Sedol?

Has anyone got a reference to convert from one to all the others? 

ColdIron

peter021072 said:

I think Europeans use ISIN, Americans use CUSIP and UK use Sedol?

ISIN (International Securities Identification Number) is used by most countries

tetrarch

Now you're asking. Actually ISIN's aren't genuinely unique, even though many consider them so.

You'll note that the ISIN you quote, GB00BH416G53 is actually the SEDOL, plus the "GB" and some zeroes and the all-important check digit of "3" at the end. There will also likely be another ISIN with a GB and the "0P0001F6KM" and maybe a "US"-flagged CUSIP-derived ISIN as well. 

The check digit algorithm is a complex alphanumeric construct from the other but helpfully this website exists to explain and fill it for you

https://www.isindb.com/fix-isin-calculate-isin-check-digit/

To answer your question, you can't actually convert and there is no single global cross-matching database that exists in the world. 

I did actually try to build one where I used to work. I was a Risk Market Data head but it was nearly always Static Data that caused the problems, whether in projects or even simple data extract tasks such as the one you are trying to address.

One slight word of warning is about the timing of the Closing Prices. This was a huge bugbear of mine and you have to be careful about which actual price you will be extracting as (to a large extent) the listing country will determine the close value, which can make like-for-like comparisons troublesome.

Good luck

Regards

Tet

dunstonh

I think Europeans use ISIN, Americans use CUSIP and UK use Sedol?

UK has no defined standard.  Most UK software will use SEDOL, ISIN or CITI. A lesser number will use MEX.

Has anyone got a reference to convert from one to all the others? 

Most UK fund factsheets or KIID will carry the various codes.

peter021072

It's easy to convert between ISIN, Sedol & EPIC using my old discountinued Sharescope software, assuming the fund is more than 18 months old.  It's the mysterious identifiers Yahoo use, eg 0P0001F6KM.L which is causing the problem. I've been cross referencing using the Fund name. Whilst it's possible in theory, it's time consuming and occasionally impossible.

The only reason I use Yahoo is to obtain the historic daily numerical prices for the last 5 years. If anyone knows of an alternative free source for the daily numeric prices of funds (not  graphical) please let me know.

GeoffTF

I get daily fund prices from Morningstar. The FT has historic prices, but they may not go back 5 years. iWeb (and no doubt the other Halifax Share Dealing Limited brands) uses MEX, which is one of the less used codes. Charles Stanley lists MEX along with other codes for the funds that it holds, but not the Yahoo code. Vanguard KIIDs just list the ISIN.

GeoffTF

The Vanguard Professional site gives a variety of codes in the Purchase Information section for each fund, e.g.:

https://www.vanguard.co.uk/professional/product/fund/money-market/9869/sterling-short-term-money-market-fund-institutional-plus-gbp-accumulation-shares

The Yahoo code is not included.