Historical Investment Data


  1. 1. What asset classes are available for constructing and running portfolios in the Big Picture app?

    The following eleven total-return indices are available. Each index begins in 19261935 and is monthly in frequency. Data are updated monthly via an automatic feed.

    • U.S. Total Market Stocks
    • Cdn. Large-Cap Stocks
    • U.S. Large-Cap Stocks
    • U.S. Mid-Cap Stocks
    • U.S. Small-Cap Stocks
    • U.S. Micro-Cap Stocks
    • International (ex. USA) Stocks
    • 5-Year Government Bonds
    • 10-Year Government Bonds
    • U.S. Government Bonds
    • Cdn. Government Bonds
    • U.S. T-Bills
    • Canadian T-Bills
    • Global Bonds
    • Gold

    The variety of asset classes featured in the Big Picture app allows you to construct as simple or elaborate a portfolio as you like. You can simulate a client's actual investment portfolio, that of a specific fund offering, or whichever hypothetical portfolio you wish.


  2. 2. Why is it so important that the Big Picture app use long-range historical data?

    The historical indices featured in the Big Picture app begin in 19261935—the longest range available for reliable data. For any given investment horizon, whether one year in duration, or forty, this breadth of data gives the Big Picture app hundreds upon hundreds of historical rolling periods from which to draw statistically meaningful results.


  3. 3. How, and how often, are historical data updated?

    Historical investment data are updated monthly, via an automatic feed, by the third week of each month. You can see the date of the most-recent data update at the bottom of the Settings page in the Big Picture app.


  4. 4. Where do you obtain historical data?

    We hold long-term agreements with respected index compilers, such as the Center for Research in Security Prices at the University of Chicago. For technical details on a specific historical index, please contact us.