Bloomberg Terminal Help

Using Built-In Help

Search Terms

The F1/Help key can be used at any screen or menu level. In the cursor prompt at the top of the screen, enter you search term, then press the F1/Help key.

Example: Beta F1/Help

Email Bloomberg Help Desk

You can also email the Bloomberg Help Desk with any questions you have. Press the F1/Help key twice to bring up the email window for the Bloomberg’s Help Desk. You will receive a response within 24 hours from the Bloomberg Help Desk.

Bloomberg Professional Service

Type in BPS, then press the Enter/GO key to access the resource center for cheat sheets for many of the Bloomberg functions.

Bloomberg University

Type in BU, then press the Enter/GO key to view upcoming seminars and events, view the latest enhancements, and access the Bloomberg resource center.

Bloomberg Keyboard Basics

The way to navigate on Bloomberg is to use its menu keys in combination with command-based shortcuts.

GREEN KEYS are ACTION keys.

  • Enter/GO – used as a standard return or enter key on a normal keyboard would be used.
  • F1/Help – used for searching Bloomberg Help or for opening up the Bloomberg Help Desk email window.
  • Menu – used to navigate from any function back to a menu of related functions.
  • Pg Up/Pg Down – used to navigate through pages of data, or to see the data used to create a chart.
  • End/Back – used to take you back to the previous screen.
  • Print – used to print a single page. To print multiple pages, type the number of pages to print, then press the Print key.

YELLOW KEYS are MARKET SECTOR keys.

  • F2/Govt – Displays a list of bonds that match a ticker symbol, coupon, and/or maturity that you select, e.g., international and US Government bonds (such as T bonds).
  • F3/Corp – Corporate debt, corporate bond prices, and yields by company may be found with this function.
  • F4/Mtge – The Mortgage menu includes information about pools and generics.
  • F5/M-Mkt – Money Markets includes programs which are records containing specific issue information. Money markets are for borrowing and lending money for three years or less. The securities in a money market can be US government bonds, Treasury Bills, and commercial paper from banks and companies.
  • F6/Muni – The Municipal markets menu contains info about bonds issued by municipalities in the US.
  • F7/Pfd – Preferred pre-markets covers both public and private securities offered by countries (US & UK) mostly. Types include fixed-rate issues, zero coupon issues, floating-rate notes, variable-rate issues, convertibles, and warranties.
  • F8/Equity – Displays actual trades and information about US and global stocks (listed and Over The Counter/OTC). US equity data goes back to 1980.
  • F9/Comdty – The Commodity menu has all exchange-listed futures and options contracts of underlying financial and physical products, i.e., gold, wheat, etc.
  • F10/Index – All Indicative and/or statistical data and market monitor functions are grouped here under specific categories. Two main sections include markets and leading economic indicators.
  • F11/Curncy – Current markets/monitors for global currencies.

Other important keys:

  • Panel – Toggles between the two most recently used of the 4 Bloomberg screens that appear when you log in.
  • ESC/Cancel – Used to cancel the current function.
  • Log Off – Press once to log on using your name/password. Press once to log off.