Was Sprint [ticker = FON] being traded on NYSE in 1980?
If so, why does Yahoo Finance only have data starting in 1984?
I have a reason to believe that it was traded back in 1980...

Please give me a source, such as a URL, that would state explicitly when 
this stock began trading on NYSE.

Thank you!

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Clarification of Question by billbauer-ga on 19 Aug 2005 09:48 PDT

First of all, the answer to this question is not on Sprint's site.

Second of all, please, please in addition to a source that states when
Sprint started trading on NYSE, find out why Yahoo Finance doesn't have the 
full price series.  I see the same problem with Target [TGT] - I
believe it was trading as early as 1980, but Yahoo Finance only
provides data going back to 1983...

Thank you!

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Clarification of Question by billbauer-ga on 19 Aug 2005 09:50 PDT

I have the data for these stocks - it came from Datastream vendor.  It
seems to be slightly different from Yahoo Finance data [I guess it was
adjusted for dividends].  The most disturbing discrepancies have to do
with the start of the price series.  I can't figure out what is going
on...

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 19 Aug 2005 19:20 PDT

Omnivorous's comment confirms something that I had seen in my
research.  The ticker symbol "FON" apparently did not exist until
1992.  Moreover, I'm doubtful that brand name Sprint existed in 1980. 
However, the predecessor to Sprint (now Sprint Nextel) did exist.

I don't know what the significance is of the 1984 starting date on
Yahoo! Finance.  However, would evidence that the predecessor to
Sprint traded on the NYSE in 1980 be a sufficient answer?

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Clarification of Question by billbauer-ga on 19 Aug 2005 20:19 PDT

Dear Scott, 

I should have really made these two separate questions.  I am sorry I
didn't think of it.  This is my first time using Google Answers.

Since this would be a partial answer to my question, can I change the
setting of this question to "$26" (down from $52)?  If you send me an
answer for $26, I will be able to post a new $26 question asking about
what determines how far back does Yahoo Finance go.

So - would it be ok if I lowered the question price to $26, or would I
be violating some Google Answers rules?

Thank you, Scott!


Stan

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 19 Aug 2005 21:20 PDT

"You can change your price at anytime as long as your question is not
currently 'locked' and being answered by a Researcher.  To change your
question price, go to 'My Account,' select 'My Unanswered Questions'
and click on the question with the price you want to change.  Then
click on 'Change Question Parameters' to modify the price."

"Answers Help and Tips: What you can do once your question is asked"
Google Answers
http://answers.google.com/answers/help.html#followup

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Clarification of Question by billbauer-ga on 19 Aug 2005 21:31 PDT

Yes, evidence that the predecessor to Sprint traded on the NYSE in
1980 would be a sufficient answer.

Thank you!

Bill --

Sprint's predecessor was United Telecommunications, which had 3
different issues traded on the NYSE in 1980:

Sprint
"Sprint History -- Milestones since 1899"
http://www.sprint.com/sprint/overview/milestones.html

Checking Jan. 2, 1980 trading in the New York Times, we find that
United Telecommunications common stock, which had a dividend of $1.52,
was down 1/4 point to 19 1/2.  It's 52-week range was 16 3/4 -- 21 3/8

There were two issues of preferred stock, both paying $1.50.  One was
priced at 28 3/4 (unchanged for the day).  The second was 24 3/8, -
1/8.

The 52-week range for the two: 26 1/2 - 31 5/8
For the second preferred: 20 7/8 - 26 1/2

For stocks that are older or no longer in either Yahoo! Finance or
BigCharts.com, it's often helpful to use the New York Times, which is
indexed back to 1851.  You can pay for access via nytimes.com or many
libraries have the Proquest Historical Newspapers online.  Though it's
a fee-based service, many public libraries provide it at no charge.

In using Proquest/NY Times, a search for "stocks" will yield the stock tables.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Thanks.

Bill --

I checked the NY Times for June, 1980 and couldn't find it listed in
NYSE trades there.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

I had a feeling that omnivorous would be able to provide the answer. 
I'm not as familiar with Proquest as omnivorous, so I didn't know
where exactly to look.  I'm glad that omnivorous answered the
question; billbauer might have had to wait a bit longer if I had tried
to answer it.