Futures Function

FUTURES() Description

The FUTURES() function is designed for automatically obtaining historical data for futures contracts directly from the Yahoo Finance website (finance.yahoo.com) by the specified symbol (for example, GC for gold or BZ for oil).

This function allows you to track the price dynamics of commodities and financial derivatives directly in Excel (LibreOffice Calc) tables, which is critically important for analyzing commodity markets and hedging risks.

Main Characteristics of the FUTURES Function

Syntax:

=FUTURES(Symbol; [Date]; [Indicator])

Parameters:

• Symbol: Exchange symbol of the future (for example, "GC", "BZ" or "GC=F", "BZ=F").
• [Date]: (Optional) The date for which data needs to be obtained. By default, the current date is used.
• [Indicator]: (Optional) Price or volume indicator ("open", "high", "low", "close", "adjclose", "volume"). By default, the closing price "close" is used.

Usage Example

Example 1

The FUTURES() function automates the collection of quote data. You specify the contract ticker, and Excel (Calc) imports historical indicators:

=FUTURES(Symbol; Date; Indicator)

We will have the following result:

In this example, the following values are used:

• Symbol: B5:B9 - Range of cells with futures symbols (GC, SI, NG, BZ, HG).
• Date: B1 - The date for which indicators need to be obtained. ("2026-02-05").
• Indicator: C4:H4 - Range of cells with indicators (open, high, low, close, adjclose, volume).

Example 2

In this example, the following values are used:

• Symbol: B1 - Cell with the future symbol ("GC").
• Date: A5 - Price setting date ("Feb 5, 2026").
• Indicator: G4 - Indicator (trading volume) ("volume").

Relevant data from the Yahoo Finance website:

How It Works?

The FUTURES() function can work both in normal mode and as an array function.

To use it as an array, simply enter the function in any cell, specifying the relevant parameters. After that, you need to press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to enter the array formula and LO Calc will automatically return a table with data.

To select all cells associated with the array formula, simply select any cell in the array and press Ctrl+/.

If you need to convert an array formula into values - select the entire array and in the Data > Calculate menu select Formula to Value.

When using a date in text format, it must first be converted into a real date, for example: DATEVALUE("2026-01-25").

Ready-made templates

You can also use ready-made templates to obtain historical data, financial indicators, or a company profile.

To do this, go to the YLC Utilities > Template > Company screener menu and select one of the following reports:

• Profile data ("Profile data")
• Financial data ("Financial data")
• Statistical data ("Statistical data")
• Dividend data ("Dividend data")
• Historical data ("Historical data")

Download Extension

You can use the FUTURES() function by installing the YLC Utilities extension.

After that, this function will be available in all files opened in Excel (LibreOffice Calc).