Relative Comparison Chart

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Overview

With the Relative Comparison Chart, the performance (in percent) of securities can be plotted against each other from a common starting date (eg over the Last Year, Last Quarter, Year to Date, or a fixed date). If you wish to plot performance from different starting dates use the Historical Comparison Chart.

The chart can be set to compare either Price Data or Total Return Data (i.e. performance includes dividends).

To create a Relative Comparison Chart select the chart style from the New > Multi-Code Chart menu. From the security selection window, type the code or name to be compared and double-click to move it to the window on the right-hand side. When all the codes have been selected click the Open button to open the chart.

If subscribed to Optuma Symbol Lists then members of major indices eg ASX 20 or US Sector ETFs can easily be opened in a Relative Comparison chart. Press F3 to open the Select Security window and from the Symbol List tab select the list to open, eg ASX 20 from the Asia Pacific list, and then Open List As… and select Relative Comparison Chart:

Changing the Date Range

By default, daily performance over the last year will be displayed, but clicking the options in the chart header will allow you to change the timeframe and also the lookback period, eg

Converting Currency

Currency fluctuations can have an impact on the overall relative gain / loss of codes used on the chart.

The currency of the chart can be changed via the chart header. By default it will be set to NONE and use the default currency:

In the following example you can see a comparison between a Relative Comparison chart using no conversion, and one that has been converted to a different currency (Yen).

In the above example you can see the currency conversion has had a significant impact on the overall values on the chart (though the shape of the lines is only slightly changed).

Removing a Code

When you have several codes displayed on the Relative Comparison Chart you can use the Relative Comparison Codes panel (right-hand side of screen above Structure Panel) to remove a code you no longer want displayed. (Note: if using a Symbol List then the RelComp chart must be unlinked from the list via the properties panel).

Move your mouse cursor to the code you wish to remove and left-click on the small red X displayed just above the code:

Video

This video is pulled from the Optuma 101 course that you can access here. This course takes you through the basics of Optuma and helps you get up and running and using Optuma to its full potential. This videos takes us through how to apply and adjust this chart.

Actions & Properties

Actions

Compare Another Code: Click here to add more comparison codes from the security selection window.

Apply Settings to All: When multiple Spreads have been applied to a chart, page or workbook, this action can be used to apply the settings of the one selected to other instances of the tool. This is a great time saver if an adjustment is made to the tool - such as changing the colour - as this allows all the other Spreads in the chart, page or entire workbook to be updated instantly.

Move to Back: If the lines of the tool are displaying in front of other tools or indicators clicking this action will move the lines view to the background.

Move to Front: If the lines of the tool are displaying behind other tools or indicators on the chart, clicking this action will bring the lines to the forefront.

Restore Default Settings: If you have adjusted any of the chart’s properties (such as the colour) you can save the adjustments as your new default setting. Each time you subsequently apply the tool to a chart it will display using the new settings.
Save Settings as Default: If any of the Relative Comparison Chart properties have been changed (colour, for example) the adjustments can be saved as the new default setting. Each time a new Relative Comparison Chart is opened it will display using the new settings.

Delete: Delete the Relative Comparison Chart from the page.

Properties

When a line is clicked two Property boxes will appear, one for the chart in general and one for the specific line.

Tool Name: Allows for the name of the tool to be changed, as displayed in the Structure Panel.

Time Frame: Allows you to change the chart’s time frame (for example, changing from a 1-day Chart to a 1-week Chart).

Show Plot Text: Tick this checkbox to display the code labels (BHP, for example) at the end of each line to identify the security.

Labels: When Show Plot Text has been enabled, this property allows you to adjust the text label displayed at the end of each line on the chart. The options are Code (default), Name, Name & Code.

Label Size: Allows you to adjust the size of the text of the label. Moving the slider to the right will increase the size of the text.

Blank Bars: The number of blank bars to the right of the last data point. Increasing this value will increase the amount of blank space (useful when Show Plot Text is enabled).

Price Adjustment: Allows you to compare Price Returns vs Total Returns (i.e. performance includes dividend payments).

Tool Transparency: Use this slider bar to adjust the transparency of the chart. Moving the slider to the left will increase the transparency of the chart.

Visible: Un-tick this checkbox to hide the chart.

Show In Price Scale: When selected the last closing value will be highlighted in the Price Scale.

Lock Tool: When this checkbox is ticked the tool can’t be deleted from the chart and none of the tools properties can be modified.

Master Currency: Use this to compare performance in a different currency.

Date Range: Allows you to set the starting point the Relative Comparison Chart plots from. The following options are available:

• Everything
• Today
• Yesterday
• Last Week
• Last Fortnight
• Last Month
• Last Quarter
• Last Year
• Last 5 Years
• Last 10 Years
• Year To Date
• Selected Date

Line Properties

Remove Plot: Removes the relative comparison line from the chart.

Plot Style: There are 6 options: Line, Dot, Histogram, Step, Shaded, or Shaded Step

Line Style: This allows the line display to be adjusted. There are 8 options available: Solid, Dots, Dash, Dash Dots, Long Dash, Long Dash Dot, Long Dash Dot Dot, Stippled.

Line Width: Allows the width of the line to be adjusted. Moving the slider bar to the right increases the thickness of the line.

Colour Scheme: Allows you to change your Colour Scheme to Copy Colours from Price Chart, Single Colour (Default), Positive / Negative, or Custom (click here to see how to use Custom scripts to change bar/line colours)

Line Colour: Allows the colour of the line to be adjusted. Clicking on the drop-down arrow will display a colour swatch. Locate the desired colour and left-click it once to select it.

Visible: Un-tick this checkbox to hide the tool from the chart.