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Qarel

07/23/02 8:58 AM

#4185 RE: Conrad #4184

Conrad,

The link I gave you was for SPY, an ETF that follows the SP500 index. The prices may not compare to Bernie's, as Yahoo, the data source, gives the historical prices adjusted for dividends. Stocks with dividends then show lower prices before the dividend. Bernie's value of 84.71 is the closing price of 7-19.

Regards,

Karel

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Bernie Goldberg

07/23/02 10:02 AM

#4196 RE: Conrad #4184

Hi,
Number 1: I definitely used monthly prices.
Number 2: I do not use Yahoo as my price source for the simple reason that you have so astutely discovered. The Yahoo prices are not accurate representations of the closing prices on the day in question. They are "recalculated" to show the dividends. This is the site that I use. http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/charts/charting.asp?Symbol=kmp The data is converted very easily to a spreadsheet by "exporting the data".I use it for two very important reasons.
a: it shows me the dividends which allows me to visualize the reliability of the dividends. Whether the dividend period is consistent and whether or not the dividend amount is constant. You have not way to determine this with Yahoo's data.
b. When doing an AIM simulation I prefer to have a choice as to whether or not to include the dividends in the calculations. I make my choice as to whether or not the dividends are to be used as a source of income (for spending) or for reinvestment.

Hope this answers your question.
Bernie