Introduction

AcF 400 Financial Databases

Paulo Alves
2022
Outline
• Financial databases
– We are going to go through 2 databases/interfaces
• Filings Expert/Perfect Information (annual reports, events, … )
• Factset

• Introduction to Excel – VBA

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Timetable

Week Day Weekday Time Topic Venue Event Type

1 10/10/2022 Mon 15:00-17:00 AcF400 VBA I (Stream A) LUMS LT3 Lecture

1 10/10/2022 Mon 17:00-19:00 AcF400 VBA I (Stream B) LUMS LT3 Lecture
1 10/10/2022 Mon 11:00-13:00 AcF400 PI + Factset LUMS LT1 Lecture
1 11/10/2022 Tue 14:00-16:00 AcF400 Factset (Stream A) LUMS LT3 Lecture
1 11/10/2022 Tue 16:00-18:00 AcF400 Factset (Stream B) LUMS LT3 Lecture
1 12/10/2022 Wed 13:00-15:00 AcF400 VBA II (Stream A) LUMS LT3 Lecture
1 12/10/2022 Wed 15:00-17:00 AcF400 VBA II (Stream B) LUMS LT3 Lecture
Online sessions
3 24/10/2022 Mon 15:00-17:00 AcF400 VBA Online Drop-in session
3 24/10/2022 Mon 12:00-14:00 AcF400 FactSet Online Drop-in session
4 01/11/2022 Tue 16:00-18:00 AcF400 FactSet Online Drop-in session
5 09/11/2022 Wed 11:00-13:00 AcF400 VBA Online Drop-in session
Pre course material
• Before the beginning of the course, students must study the following materials by
themselves:
• Filling Expert
• File: 1 – Filings Expert.pdf

• Complete Study Sheet 1 (file: 2022 Study Sheets - AFM.pdf)

• Expected time needed to complete this task: 1 hour.

• Factset
• File: 2 – Factset - I.pdf

• Complete Study Sheet 2 (file: 2022 Study Sheets - AFM.pdf)

• Expected time needed to complete this task: 1 hour.

Pre course material
• Before the beginning of the course, students must study the following materials by
themselves:
• Introduction to VBA
• File: 3 – VBA. pdf

• This set of slides includes a basic introduction to VBA, including several simple exercises.

• Expected time needed to complete this task: 1 to 2 days day

• The task includes two final tasks that students must complete and submit by 7th of October. These
submissions will not be assessed.

• Expected time needed to complete this task: 1 to 2 days

MSc Finance & MSc Acc. & Financial Mgt
• Sessions
– Mandatory
• All lectures

– Voluntary
• Drop-in sessions are task-specific, i.e. for each session, there will be
a task associated that must be answered beforehand.
• Students attending must be present at the beginning of each
session.

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MSc Finance & MSc Acc. & Financial Mgt (2)
• Assessment
– Mandatory
• Complete a self-study worksheet for FE + Factset
– Supported by online materials and drop-in workshops
– Will account for 2.5% of each 500-series module
– Voluntary
• Complete a self-study worksheet for VBA
– Supported by online materials and drop-in workshops
– Graded, with a certificate awarded to students achieving > 60%
• Complete FactSet self-study certificate
– The certificate includes materials not covered in AcF400
– Check FactSet website

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Final notes
• Make sure you install ISS AppsAnywhere
– lancaster.ac.uk/apps

• If you run into some hardware/software issues please contact

ISS Helpdesk as soon as possible