Fix Excel Stocks Data Type Not Finding BVMF ETF Tickers
Question details
The user is unable to retrieve financial data for specific Brazilian BVMF ETF ticker symbols using the built-in Stocks Data Type in Excel.
- Product
- Excel 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to pull live stock market data into a spreadsheet for Brazilian ETFs such as BIEF39, BVLU39, BIEM39, BQUA39, and BEFV39.
- Observed behavior
- Excel fails to recognize the ticker symbols and returns a #VALUE! error, even though the tickers are valid and appear normally in Bing search results.
Ensure you are signed in with an active Microsoft 365 subscription and have a stable internet connection, as the Stocks Data Type requires online access to query external databases.
Verify Data Source Availability and Request an Update
Since Excel retrieves its financial data from a third-party provider (Refinitiv), unsupported tickers must be requested directly from the provider.
Excel does not pull financial data directly from Bing search results. Instead, it relies on Refinitiv as its exclusive financial data provider for the Stocks Data Type. If Refinitiv has not yet integrated or updated data for certain regional ETFs like the Brazilian BVMF, Excel will return a #VALUE! error.
Type a well-known ticker like 'MSFT' into a cell next to your BVMF ticker (e.g., 'BIEF39'). Select both cells, navigate to the Data tab, and click 'Stocks'. If MSFT works but BIEF39 returns a #VALUE! error, the issue is specific to the ticker's availability, not your software.
Visit the official Microsoft Support page regarding 'Stocks financial data sources' to review the list of supported international exchanges and any known delays or limitations.
Go to the official Refinitiv website (refinitiv.com), navigate to their contact or support section, and submit a formal request to add support for the missing BVMF ETF ticker symbols to their database.
Use Power Query as a Workaround to Import Web Data
Bypass the built-in Stocks Data Type by using Power Query to pull financial data directly from a reliable financial website.
Try WPS Office for Your Spreadsheet Needs
While external data provider limitations can affect any spreadsheet software, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office. It seamlessly opens your existing Excel files and offers a familiar interface without expensive subscription fees.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package and complete the setup on your device.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx files directly without any formatting loss.
- 3. Import Web Data: Navigate to the Data tab in WPS Spreadsheet to utilize data import tools for fetching external information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel show a #VALUE! error for certain stock tickers?
This error typically occurs when Excel's financial data provider, Refinitiv, does not recognize the ticker symbol, lacks current data for that specific stock/ETF, or the exchange is not fully supported yet.
Are Bing search results the same as Excel Stocks Data?
No. Bing is a search engine that pulls data from various general web sources, while Excel specifically relies on a strict database managed by Refinitiv for its Stocks Data Type. A ticker appearing in Bing does not guarantee it will work in Excel.
Can I manually add missing stock data to the Excel Stocks feature?
You cannot manually add unsupported tickers to the built-in Stocks Data Type database. However, you can manually type the data into standard cells or use the 'From Web' Power Query feature to pull prices from alternative financial websites.
Does WPS Office support importing financial data?
Yes, WPS Spreadsheet allows you to import external data from the web or CSV files. This enables you to pull financial data from various online sources if built-in tools in other software are insufficient.
