Directory position 5
Product overview
FirstRate Data offers futures history in downloadable text-based bundles. It can suit a researcher whose existing importer already expects CSV and who prefers a defined one-time historical purchase.
Compare the exact roots, start dates, bar sizes and continuous-contract construction. A bundle title is not enough to establish coverage for every contract or session.
| Recommended for | CSV-based intraday and daily workflows |
|---|---|
| Delivery | Downloadable historical bundles |
| Format | Zipped CSV |
| Buying model | One-time bundles |
A practical CSV alternative
The main advantage is a straightforward file-delivery workflow. Download the archive, retain the original ZIP files and inventory, then load the text with a declared schema. Avoid allowing each analysis tool to infer timestamps and numeric types independently.
CSV is interoperable but not self-describing. Record column meanings, timezone, session boundaries, missing-value conventions and whether prices have been back-adjusted.
Budget the conversion layer
If the working environment is DuckDB, pandas or Polars, converting the required CSV files to Parquet can make repeated typed queries more convenient. Compare source and destination row counts and check contract identifiers and time boundaries during conversion.
A native Parquet archive avoids this stage. That does not make text observations inherently less accurate; it changes the integration and storage work required from the buyer.
Check before buying
- Verify each required futures root and date range.
- Distinguish per-contract history from continuous data.
- Download and parse the available sample.
- Confirm update terms and usage rights separately.