Version History

Last Updated: 2024/06/04

Version 2.71
Posted: 2024/06/04
  • Updates:
    • PF.BondFRN. FRN valuation now uses the JSE swap curve (NACC) by default.
    • PF.Swap. Floating leg valuation now uses the JSE swap curve (NACC) by default.
    • PF.YieldCurveJSE. JSE linear swap (NACQ) has been discontinued but can still be retrieved historically.
    • PF.YieldCurveLookup. JSE linear swap (NACQ) has been discontinued but can still be retrieved historically.
Version 2.66
Posted: 2023/06/01
  • Updates:
    • PF.ZeroCurve2Par. Performance improvements.
    • PF.YieldCurveJSE. Update to specify the yield curve source dataset to use.
    • MTM Folder location made available to accomodate MTMt+0 - t+3 and UTMTMt+0 - t+3 files.
Version 2.62
Posted: 2023/05/22
  • New functionality:
    • PF.YieldCurveConstituents. Returns the set of inputs used by the JSE to construct zero-coupon yield curves.
    • PF.YieldCurveJSE. Returns the zero-coupon yield curves as constructed and published by the JSE.
    • PF.YieldCurveLookup. Returns an interest rate corresponding to a particular point in time on the JSE yield curve.
    • PF.MTM. Returns the MTM valuations and other instrument related information for all the JSE listed debt instruments.
    • PF.MTM_BondCodes. Returns all the bond codes for instruments the JSE publishes MTM valuations.
    • PF.MTM_Outputs. Returns all the Output fields that are available for retrieval through the PF.MTM and PF.MTM_Range function.
    • PF.MTM_Range. Returns the MTM valuations and other instrument related information for all the JSE listed debt instruments.
    • PF.MixedRate_BondCodes. Returns all the Mixed Rate Notes bond codes listed on the JSE.
    • PF.MixedRate_Legs. Returns the number of legs for a Mixed Rate Note listed on the JSE.
    • PF.MixedRateNote. Returns reference data for a Mixed Rate Notes listed on the JSE.
    • PF.BondData. 39 additional output options have been added to the existing function.
    • PT.ConvertRates. 1 additional convention added. Converts a given interest rate from one convention to another.
    • PT.WorkDays. Returns the business days between two dates, excluding weekends and South African public holidays.
    Updates:
    • All the Demo workbooks have been updated to align with the additional functions and function outputs.
Version 2.59
Posted: 2022/09/20
  • Updates:
    • Driver updates to maintain industry standards and best practices.
Version 2.57
Posted: 2022/03/14
  • Updates:
    • Improved tolerance for Bond Yield calculations.
    • Increased support for TLS 1.2 and future protocols.
Version 2.53
Posted: 2022/02/23
  • Updates:
    • Research Portal upgrades.
    • Performance improvements made to all Bond functions.
Version 2.48
Posted: 2022/01/11
  • Updates:
    • Updated security protocol for webservice connections to TLS 1.2.
Version 2.46
Posted: 2021/05/05
  • Updates:
    • PF.YieldCurve. The solver used for bootstrapping yield curves has been updated.
Version 2.44
Posted: 2021/03/19
  • Ribbon changes:
    • Function Library addition: New data functions have their own Function Library.
    • Toolbox addition: The Data Manager button moved to the new Data Tools button group.
  • New functionality:
    • PD.ReadFile. This function enables you to extract data from an external file based on the specified File Configuration.
  • Features/Tools:
    • File Config Manager – Tool that allows you to setup configurations to read fields from any external Excel/Csv file.
    • Sens Subscription Manager – Tool that allows you to subscribe to and manage your own SENS notifications.
    • Volatility Reports – A new set of Volatility Reports are available under Reports. Both the Implied Volatility Skew charts and Implied vs Realised Volatility charts (as sent by Derivatives Desk) can now be accessed for historic dates under Reports., and provide an interactive environment for viewing actual chart data points.
Version 2.36
Posted: 2020/11/06
  • Intellisense is now available on all PSec GEARS functions.
  • Improved performance for the Daily Preference Share Monitor template.
  • Improved performance and robustness of all optimizers and solvers.
  • The PT.Today() function has been updated to only return the date portion of the current server date and time.
  • New PT.Now() function which returns the current server date and time.
Version 2.26
Posted: 2020/08/05
  • Ribbon changes:
    • Reports addition: eQuip. A user friendly equities dashboard that offers an expansive universe of stock analysis metrics and topics. Underpinning this dashboard is PSec’s extensive proprietary database of trade information and quantitative analysis toolkits which are uniquely displayed using interactive charts, images and tables. eQuip covers Mid and Large Cap stocks.
    • Toolbox addition: GEARS Templates. This new feature is being launched with our Daily Preference Share Monitor. The monitor enables users to pull historical data for preference shares using new functionality detailed below. In addition, users can model clean prices and yields by inputting their expectations for market prices and the prime rate.
  • New functionality:
    • PF.PrefShare. This function enables you to extract data of preference shares falling into the FTSE/JSE Preference Share index (J251).
    • PQ.MaxGain. Use this function to calculate the maximum gain in a price series.
    • PF.MTM. 7 additional output options have been added to the existing function.
  • Additional Demos:
    • Data Analytics – Statistical Relationship – Shrinkage Estimators.
    • Portfolio Analytics – Volatility/Risk – Maximum Gain.
    • Fixed Income – Useful Data Functions – Mark-to-Market (updated).
  • Research Portal:
    • As part of the PSec Global Expansion, a Global Research tab has been added to the portal. This section includes research from Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.
Version 2.17
Posted: 2020/04/20
  • Foundation updates required for the next major version release.
Version 2.15
Posted: 2020/04/16
  • Bug fixes:
    • Fixed a critical bug related to loading the MS Excel ribbon in certain versions of MS Excel 2013.
  • Improved memory management for various function calculations.
  • Moved the Reports dropdown control on the MS Excel ribbon into its own ribbon category for future expansion.
Version 2.13
Posted: 2020/02/07
  • PSec GEARS enjoyed several visual and user experience enhancements:
    • New PSec GEARS logos and MS Excel ribbon icons.
    • New PSec GEARS dark and light themes for the MS Excel ribbon.
    • The PSec GEARS add-in got moved from the Addins tab to its own tab called "PSec GEARS" in MS Excel.
    • A new function library ribbon-section was added to the MS Excel PSec GEARS ribbon.
    • The PSec - Quants function category got split into PSec - Data Analytics and PSec - Portfolio Analytics.
  • Improved Installation Experience:
    • One installer for all versions of Microsoft Excel.
  • The Currency Volatility Skew and Term Structure Visualiser tool has been added to the collection of tools under Interactive Tools.
  • PQ.RandomPortfolios was added as an alternative performance measurement.
  • The following functions, along with their help documentation, have been added:
    • PF.MertonModel
    • PF.OhlsonOScore
    • PF.AssetSwap
    • PQ.AltmanZScore renamed to PF.AltmanZScore
    • PQ.Skewness
    • PQ.Kurtosis
    • PQ.SharpeRatioAdjusted
    • PQ.MeansBayesStein
    • PQ.MeansJamesStein
    • PQ.CovarianceLedoitWolf
    • PQ.ContributionToRisk
    • PQ.CorrelationToBasket
    • PQ.DownsideStats
    • PQ.UpsideStats
    • PQ.UpsidePotentialRatio
    • PQ.AlphaJensen
    • PQ.BernardoLedoitRatio
    • PQ.DownsideFrequency
    • PQ.FamaBeta
    • PQ.Kappa
    • PQ.OmegaSharpeRatio
    • PQ.KellyRatio
    • PQ.MSquaredExcess
    • PQ.MarketTiming
    • PQ.MeanAbsoluteDeviation
    • PQ.ProspectRatio
    • PQ.ReturnsGeltner
    • PQ.ReturnAnnualised
    • PQ.ReturnAnnualisedExcess
    • PQ.ReturnsRelative
    • PQ.StandardDeviationAnnualised
    • PQ.SharpeRatioRealised
    • PQ.SkewnessKurtosisRatio
    • PQ.SmoothingIndex
    • PQ.RiskDecomposition
    • PQ.AppraisalRatio
    • PQ.TreynorRatio
    • PQ.UpDownRatios
    • PQ.UpsideFrequency
    • PQ.VariabilitySkewness
    • PQ.VolatilitySkewness
    • PQ.JarqueBeraTest
    • PQ.LoessFilter
    • PQ.LowessFilter
    • PQ.SavitskyGolaySmoother
    • PQ.RegressionVPE
    • PQ.AlphaNet
Version 1.412
Posted: 2019/07/19
  • The following function, along with its documentation, has been improved and updated in Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.PortfolioReturns
      • Added transaction cost decompositions
      • Added portfolio turnover calculations
      • Added rebalance weight change calculation
      • Added option of asset specific transaction costs
      • Improved usability of function when "returns" are specified as inputs. This involves changes to how portfolio dates and inputs are specified. Please see the function demo file for further insights.
  • The following security updates have been made to the PSec GEARS framework:
    • Email verification has been implimented on a rolling period base. Each account must be verified every 3 months, by following the link that will be emailed to the account's email address.
Version 1.404
Posted: 2019/05/02
  • The following new function, along with its documentation, has been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.AltmanZScore
Version 1.37
Posted: 2019/03/13
  • The following new functions, along with their documentation, have been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.CumulativeReturns
    • PQ.PortfolioReturns
Version 0.168
Posted: 2018/08/06
  • The following new functions, along with their documentation, have been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.MultiVarRegression
    • PQ.MultiVarRegressionDebiased
Version 0.160
Posted: 2018/04/10
  • The following new functions, along with their documentation, have been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.CorrelDebiased
    • PQ.CovarDebiased
Version 0.148
Posted: 2017/09/07
  • We take great pleasure in introducing our suite of functions aimed at Financial Analysis Modelling, fresh from our Fundamental Labs team. The functions are accompanied by extensive documentation which includes both theoretical explanations of the underlying model as well as usage tips of the associated functions. In addition to the help documentation all models and functions are complimented with detailed built-in demonstration spreadsheets to fast track the user’s learning. These models and functions are especially useful to those newer to the field of equity analysis and they are also used and supported by our own fundamental equity analysts. The Financial Analysis functions under the Psec - Financial Analysis category are:
    • PFA.WACC: calculates the Weighted Average Cost of Capital of a company.
    • PFA.DDM: calculates the share value using the Dividend Discount Model.
    • PFA.FCF: calculates the share value using the Free Cash Flow Model.
    • PFA.TRD: performs a Total Return Decomposition and returns the calculated total return, its component parts (dividend yield, earnings growth, PE rerating) as well as the portion of the total return attributable to capital appreciation.
  • The following new function with documentation has been added to Psec - Fixed Income:
    • PF.Swap
  • The following new functions with documentation have been added to Psec - Tools:
    • PT.Concat
    • PT.Contains
    • PT.Sort
    • PT.Split
  • Financial Analysis Function Demos: Addition of demonstration spreadsheets for all our fundamental financial analysis functions accessible under the "Function Demos" menu item.
  • Tools Function Demos: Addition of demonstration spreadsheets for all our adhoc and additional tool functions accessible under the "Function Demos" menu item.
Version 0.141
Posted: 2017/06/27
  • We have moved the Yield Curve Visualiser from Tools to Visual Labs
  • Under the Efficient Frontier application we have added the ability to save and load constraints as well as improve loading data from .csv files
  • The following new functions with documentation have been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.IsStationary
    • PQ.AreCointegrated
Version 0.139
Posted: 2017/05/08
  • Addition of a new feature in PSec GEARS named “Visual Labs” where current and future interactive market intelligence and research will be contained
  • Addition of Bond Strategies example spreadsheets located under Demo Functions -> Fixed Income
  • Derivatives Function Demos: Addition of demonstration spreadsheets for all our equity derivative functions accessible under the "Function Demos" menu item.
Version 0.131
Posted: 2016/11/15
  • The following new function with documentation has been added to Psec - Tools:
    • PT.AddMonths
  • Quants Function Demos: Addition of demonstration spreadsheets for all our quantitative functions accessible under the "Function Demos" menu item.
Version 0.126
2016/08/30
  • This release introduces a simple PSec Diagnostic Tool to assist developers in trouble shooting certain aspects of the PSec GEARS Excel Add-in
Version 0.125
Posted: 2016/05/20
  • We have added a simple yet affective model to visually inspect the various yield curves as published by the JSE. The new "Yield Curve Visualiser" model can be found under the "Tools" menu item on the add-in ribbon
  • Updated the documentation for the "Yield Curve Visualiser"
Version 0.120
Posted: 2016/05/13
  • A milestone achievement in this release is the inclusion of the PSec Research Portal accessible via a new menu item on add-in ribbon
  • Some minor bug fixes
Version 0.117
Posted: 2015/10/15
  • The following new function with documentation has been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.CSV
  • The following new function with documentation has been added to Psec - Fixed Income:
    • PF.ConvertibleBond
  • Addition of built-in demo worksheets accessible from the "Function Demos" menu item. We have started with a Fixed Income function demonstration and models with Derivatives and Quants are under construction and soon to follow.
  • On the back of the new demo worksheets... All help files will also contain direct links to their associated demos. For an example please see the help on PQ.CSV.
  • Some minor bug fixes
  • Updated documentation
Version 0.109
Posted: 2015/06/27
  • The major feature released in this version is a 64bit installation aimed specifically at the Excel 64bit configuration
  • Some minor bug fixes
  • Updated documentation
Version 0.104
Posted: 2014/09/19
  • The following new functions have been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.WE (Weight Entropy)
    • PQ.HI (Herfindahl Index)
    • PQ.IPC (Intra-Portfolio Correlation)
    • PQ.Entropy (using k-d Partitioning)
    • PQ.DivDelta (Diversification Delta)
    • PQ.PDI (Portfolio Diversification Index)
    • PQ.ENB (Effective Number of Bets)
  • The following new function has been added to Psec - Tools:
    • PT.Distinct
  • Added "Real" curves to the PF.CurveLookup function
  • Documentation for the above functions has also been added
Version 0.97
Posted: 2014/06/11
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new function has been added to Psec - Fixed Income:
    • PF.YieldCurve
  • Added a tool to add custom data labels to a chart series. The tool can be found under the tools menu item.
Version 0.96
Posted: 2014/06/05
  • Still in Beta testing
  • Extended the following functions
    • PT.Interpolate - Added Monotone Preserving interpolation
    • Added an option style parameter (i.e. European or American) to all relevant equity derivative functions. The parameter is optional and the default is European
  • The following new functions have been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.VaR - Value at Risk
    • PQ.TE - Tracking Error
    • PQ.IR - Information Ratio
    • PQ.Beta
    • PQ.DownsideDev - Downside Deviation
    • The help file has also been updated with documentation for the above
  • Added a tool to add custom data labels to a chart series. The tool can be found under the tools menu item.
Version 0.93
Posted: 2014/02/12
  • Still in Beta testing
  • Extended the following functions
    • PF.Rates - Added South-African prime lending rates
    • PT.Interpolate - Added Akima interpolation
  • Updated the Efficient Frontier application with the following new features
    • The ability to load data from an Excel file
    • A switch to display the underlying statistics to the frontier points as annualised or not
    • A whole bunch of additional risk and performance statistics
Version 0.71
Posted: 2013/03/12
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new function has been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.AutoCorrel
  • The following new function has been added to Psec - Fixed Income:
    • PF.FindYield_TR
Version 0.70
Posted: 2013/03/26
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new functions have been added to Psec - Quants:
    • PQ.MaxDrawDown
    • PQ.PortOpt
    • PQ.SharpeRatio
    • PQ.EPM
    • PQ.Covar
  • Interactive Graphical Efficient Frontier Tool added. Can be found under the tools menu item.
Version 0.51
Posted: 2012/06/26
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new functions have been added to Psec - Fixed Income:
    • PF.BondFRN
    • PF.Rates
    • PF.ZeroCurve2Par
Version 0.46
Posted: 2012/05/10
  • Still in Beta testing
  • In this version we have introduced Excel style help on all the functions. The help file is accessable through the add-ins tab under the Prescient section in the ribbon as well as through the Excel Function Wizard.
  • We added a new category (Psec - Fixed Income) containing the following functions:
    • PF_AllinCurve
    • PF_BondCPI
    • PF_BondData
    • PF_BondFuture
    • PF_BondOption
    • PF_BondV
    • PF_BreakEvenInflation
    • PF_CouponFlow
    • PF_CPI
    • PF_CPI3MonthLag
    • PF_CurveLookup
    • PF_FindYield_Allin
    • PF_MTM
    • PF_PVdownCurve
    • PF_TotalReturn_ActualInf
    • PF_TotalReturn_AvgInf
    • PF_TotalReturn_V
Version 0.44
Posted: 2012/02/28
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new functions have been added:
    • PE.SingleStepBarrier
    • PE.SingleStepBarrier_LV
    • PE.DoubleBarrier_IK
    • PE.DoubleStepBarrier
    • PE.DoubleStepBarrier_LV
    • PE.FirstThenBarrier
Version 0.39
Posted: 2012/02/28
  • Still in Beta testing
  • Modified the following function:
    • PE.LookbackAsian - Made the function multithreaded to speed up calculation
Version 0.36
Posted: 2012/02/21
  • Still in Beta testing
  • Modified the following function:
    • PE.LookbackAsian - Added an optional parameter to specify the lookback type
Version 0.33
Posted: 2012/02/16
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new functions have been added:
    • PE.LookbackAsian
    • PT.AddWorkDays
    • PT.IsWorkDay
    • PT.IsPublicHoliday
    • PT.IsWeekend
    • PT.DayOfWeek
    • PT.PHDesc
    • PT.NrWorkDays
    • PT.ModifiedFollowing
    • PF.BondV
    • PF.BondCPI
    • PF.MTM
    • PF.CurveLookup
    • PF.BondData
    • PF.CPI
    • PF.CPI3MonthLag
    • PF.FindYield_Allin
    • PF.TotalReturn_V
    • PF.BondOption
    • PF.CouponFlow
Version 0.29
Posted: 2011/11/21
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new function has been added:
    • PQ.PCA
Version 0.28
Posted: 2011/10/21
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new functions have been added:
    • PQ.Correl
    • PQ.HierarchicalCluster
Version 0.26
Posted: 2011/09/01
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new function has been added:
    • PE.Reservoir
Version 0.25
Posted: 2011/08/04
  • Still in Beta testing
  • The following new functions have been added:
    • PQ.Omega
    • PQ.CVaR
    • PQ.Sortino
    • PQ.MultivarReturns
Version 0.22
Posted: 2011/05/31
  • In Beta testing
  • The following new functions have been added:
    • PQ.PortfolioRisk
    • PT.Interpolate
Version 0.21
Posted: 2011/04/06
  • In Beta testing
  • The following new functions have been added:
    • PE.BS
    • PE.BS_ImpVol
    • PE.BSfutures
    • PE.BSfutures_ImpVol
    • PE.BSmultiDiv
    • PT.ConvertRates
Version 0.14
Posted: 2011/01/08
  • Alpha release