How I'd Switch to Google Finance

Earlier I mentioned that Google (NASD: GOOG) is in a great position because people can imagine that Google is working on any number of fantasy projects.  Well, SiliconBeat says they're getting ready to launch Google Finance to compete head-to-head with Yahoo! Finance:

Now that we have Google Talk, the whispering here in Silicon Valley is that Google hopes to launch Google Finance sometime in September. We haven't confirmed this, but the word is that Google wants to replicate Yahoo Finance, but do it even better. It is in talks with data vendor Revere Data, a San Francisco company -- which will provide the data and analytics on U.S. public companies for the service. Revere did not respond to multiple requests for comment yesterday. Google didn't comment either.

Is it true? I hope so as there's a lot of room left for improvement in this space.  Here's just a few of the things that Google Finance should have:

• Better historical data, including financial and share price data for companies that are no longer public, or independent.  Also, historical data going further back would be nice.
• Customizable news.  I'm really tired of the news sources offered by Yahoo.  The Motely Fool has become nothing but an ad for the Hidden Gems newsletter ("If you had bought Starbucks back in 1992....David Gardner will find these...").  The Street.com is intolerably bad, and what is good is too cluttered.  How about adding some blogs (hint hint) to the mix, or at least a Google News search for each stock monitored.
• Better Charting.  Why can't I make a 1-month chart on Yahoo Finance?  Why do I have to choose between 1D, 3d, and 3 Months when I want something short term?  Chart sizing should be infinitely customizable.
• Get rid of the message boards.  The scummy tone on the Yahoo! message boards sullies the whole thing. 
• RSS RSS RSS.  Everything should be available via RSS feeds from price (at user-selected time intervals) to news, to (if they must have them) message boards to updates of analyst estimates.
• Better data on foreign stocks.
• XBRL.  Google should join Microsoft in putting its weight behind XBRL standards, so that corporate filings can easily be scanned, and data extracted.  Scrolling through page after page of SEC filings just to get a buyback chart is a nightmare which needs to be corrected.  Check it out here.

If Google impliments a few of these things, The Stalwart will gladly switch it's quote links to Google pages.  But if they just make a Yahoo clone (like they did with their IM software), then why bother.

Comments

[A. Yung]

If you're looking for a new financial portal, check out http://www.marketcenter.com It's developed by the folks who created eSignal and the original MarketWatch. Who knows? There may be some former Yahoo Finance people in the mix.

[atl10trader]

I would add one item to your comprehensive list: Technicals. They should balance the usual fundamental data with free technical information like this:
http://www.trade-ideas.com/StockInfo/GOOG/GOOGLE_INC_CL_A.html

[M]

Take a look at http://www.anumati.com. Offers better financial data, going back much further (6-8 years, 12-15 quarters) than the other finance portals

[dan @ catablast media]

WE NEED THE YAHOO MESSAGE BOARDS, OR ELSE PATTY BYRNE WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BITCH ABOUT IN THE NYTIMES (AS HE TRIES TO COVER UP HIS CO'S CASH-HEMORRHAGING REALITY....)

[Merle Betz]

What is the address for Google Finance? I cannot seem to get this---

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[sam]

You may visit this URL: http://www.stock-forecasting.com
They provide functionality similar to Google Finance, but more related to stocks analysis and predictions. And they have a nice flash chart

[john beck]

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the folks who created eSignal and the original MarketWatch. Who knows? There may be some former Yahoo Finance people in the mix.

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I don't normally comment on blogs, however I have to say that I rather enjoyed yours as it was indepth. I´ve bookmarked your blog and hope to explorer it further when I have a little more time. Keep up the good work.

[Eli]

Thanks for article. Every time like to read you.

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Scrolling through page after page of SEC filings just to get a buyback chart is a nightmare which needs to be corrected. Check it out here.

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