What is IHS Markit?

IHS Markit was a UK-based information company that originated from the merger of IHS Inc. and Markit Ltd. in 2016. It became a subsidiary of S&P Global following a merger completed in 2022. The company was known for providing financial information services and employed around 14,000 people at the time of its last independent reporting.

The services offered by IHS Markit were designed to enhance transparency, reduce risk, and improve operational efficiency within financial markets. It catered to a client base that included significant institutional participants. IHS Markit's data services encompassed a wide range of financial instruments and asset classes, providing data, valuations, and trade processing to its clients.

Among the products offered by IHS Markit was Markit Securities Finance Data, which provided insights into securities lending. Their indices covered various areas including loans, corporate, municipal, and sovereign debt, with a geographical reach that spanned Europe, Asia, North America, and Emerging Markets. Furthermore, IHS Markit was a provider of high-quality Credit Default Swap (CDS) pricing data, sourced from market makers, and Markit RED acted as the central source of CDS reference data for the credit derivatives market. The data service products from IHS Markit were updated on a daily basis, ensuring the latest information was available to clients.

IHS Markit Excel Plugins

Integration and Functionality

IHS Markit Connect is specifically designed to integrate with Microsoft Excel, enhancing the functionality of the spreadsheet software. With these plugins, users are able to create spreadsheets either from templates or from scratch, and present data using new charts and graphs including sparklines and various formatting options. Additionally, users can create forecasts to predict trends with a single click and share their workbooks with others. Compatibility with Office 365 allows work to be conducted on Excel files from mobile devices, desktops, or web browsers.

Data Access and Analysis

The plugins developed by IHS Markit for Excel offer users the ability to access a diverse range of analysis types. Access to detailed information on corporate, bank, and syndicated loans, as well as facility and ratings information, is readily available. They also provide identifier mappings which streamline the process of data management within Excel.

Data Storage and Retrieval

Storing Markit data efficiently is another key feature of these Excel plugins. Users can store Markit data in Excel, organizing it within separate workbooks or worksheets as needed. This organization aids in faster data retrieval from Markit and eliminates duplicate rows, thereby optimizing the data handling process.

Importing and Exporting Data

The use of IHS Markit Excel plugins greatly simplifies the process of importing data into Microsoft Access, eliminating the need for manual data entry. Users can import data from Markit into Microsoft Access or other databases using C#, by appending or copying records, which saves time and reduces errors. Furthermore, the plugins can be used to export data to CSV format, allowing for greater flexibility in data use and sharing.

Access to Market Information

For firms, the plugins enable access to pricing services and reference data, which can be utilized for accounting and risk assessment purposes. Analysts benefit from the ability to access extensive information without requiring significant technological resources, leading to more efficient and effective analysis.

Common Use Cases

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  Integrate structured and unstructured oil and gas-specific data into Excel for enhanced analysis and visualization
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  Utilize Excels forecasting features to predict trends in energy markets using IHS Markits real-time analytics and data
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  Leverage Excels advanced calculation capabilities to perform complex economic calculations with data provided by IHS Markit
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  Create responsive, highly visual spreadsheets and dashboards in Excel that handle large volumes of IHS Markit data for decision making
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  Streamline workflows by automating the import of IHS Markit data into Excel, enabling quick and efficient data analysis and reporting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IHS Markit Excel plugin and what does it do?

The IHS Markit Excel plugin, known as IHS Markit Connect, integrates with Microsoft Excel to provide financial data on corporate bonds, loans, and other financial products. It allows users to load and interact with this data directly within Excel.

How does IHS Markit Connect integrate with other software?

IHS Markit Connect integrates with other software like Entrio and Accelex. Entrio provides vendor insights and cost management while Accelex offers data-driven insights into alternative investments.

How can I request financial data using the IHS Markit Excel plugin?

You can request data using the Markit Loans Automated Data Exchange within the plugin, which involves specifying data requests, referred to as 'channels', which can be accessed in CSV or XML format using customized web requests.

What kind of financial data can I access with the IHS Markit Excel plugin?

The plugin provides access to daily loan prices for US and European loans, loan analytics, financial statement data, and for corporate and sovereign bonds, it offers daily pricing and analytics.

Are there any licensing requirements for using CUSIP data with the IHS Markit Excel plugin?

Yes, the CUSIP, which provides standardized identification of financial instruments, is a licensed product from CUSIP Global Services and may require a license to store and use in a database.