How could I gather this stock information?

Question

I want to be able to create a live chart that updates in real time, but what I need the chart to tell me is the % difference between two stocks. For example, if aapl were down 1% and msft were up 1.1% then the chart would be at .1%. I need it to continuously update so that I can see the previous numbers. How could I go ahead doing this? I was thinking programs under TD Ameritrade or Scottrade, but now I am thinking some other trading program might be better that I don't know about.

Is there a program where if you are a progamer you can write what you need and then somehow there is an input source for that program to update it live perhaps?

Answer 1

all you need is realtime quotes feeding into excel where you'd enter a simple formula calculating the percent difference.   check w/your broker to see if you have access to such a program.

in the old days, quotron was often used for this and more.  you can do this using bloomberg, factset, compustat, capital iq, but these are all expensive.

check w/whoever you trade with.