CNBC Real-Time for iPad

The only free iPad app currently offering real-time stock quotes from the NYSE and NASDAQ exchanges before, during and after market hours.

Over the last several months we have reviewed numerous apps for the iPad and iPhone that offer portfolio tracking and streaming stock quotes. Until now, there has been a trade-off between paying for an app providing real-time quotes or using a free app with delayed market quotes. However, this is no longer the case. CNBC’s new iPad app gives users access to live, real-time stock quotes from both the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Marketplace.

Live, Real-Time Quotes and Charts

We installed the CNBC app on our iPad and were immediately impressed with the interface and graphics. The app is divided into four main sections—markets, news, videos and “My Stocks.” The markets section contains the bulk of the data available with the app and is divided into eight subsections—indexes, pre-markets, movers, commodities, currencies, bonds, Dow impact and CNBC stocks.

The indexes tab offers current quotes and performance data for major U.S., European and Asian indexes. For each you get the latest real-time quote, the change for the day, five-day return, a thumbnail chart of the day’s trading activity and a brief news headline. Tapping an individual index will take you to a full-screen chart with multiple timeframes (one day to five years). You can overlay an additional index chart for comparison and choose from over 10 fundamental and technical indicators. There is also a news tab you can tap for news items related to the index you are viewing. You also have the option of adding the index to the “My Stocks” watchlist.

The pre-markets tab lets you see how the S&P 500, Dow Jones industrial average and NASDAQ Composite indexes are trading relative to their fair value before trading opens for the day.

To see the biggest percentage gainers and losers for the S&P 500, NASDAQ and Dow Jones industrial average, tap on the movers tab. There you can see the percentage gain or loss for the day, the day’s trading volume, a thumbnail chart of the day’s price activity, and a current news headline.

The commodities tab tracks energy, metal, agriculture and livestock futures. Here you can see the latest price for the current futures contract, the change for the current trading day, an indication of whether trading volume is above or below average, a thumbnail chart of the currrent day’s price activity, and a news headline. Unfortunately, you cannot tap on an individual futures contract to view a larger chart or more detailed information.

The currencies tab tracks the U.S. Dollar Index over the last five days, one and three months, year-to-date and one year. It also tracks the performance of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, French franc, and Canadian dollar.

On the bonds tab you will find the current yield curve and can track changes in it over the last day, week, one and six months, and year. The tab also offers current price and yield quotes for T-bills, Treasury notes and bonds, along with the change in both.

CNBC Real-Time for iPad

To see how individual stocks are driving the Dow Jones industrial average, tap the Dow Impact tab. There you will see the current Dow industrial quote along with the change for the day and its performance over the last five days, one and three months, year-to-date and one year. The tab then lists those Dow stocks that are having the biggest positive and negative impact on the Dow Jones industrial average for the current trading day, including the index impact for the day.

Lastly, the CNBC stocks tab lists stocks being followed and discussed CNBC that day. This list changes throughout the trading day.

Personalized Stock Watchlists

The “My Stocks” tab allows users to create custom lists of stocks you own or track, view their performance in real time and retrieve current news content. From this list you can tap on individual indexes or stocks to view a full-screen chart or a collection of news items. You can save articles for off-line viewing—the stories are downloaded to your iPad so you can read them whether or not you are connected to the Internet. You can also share articles via e-mail. However, in this era of social sharing via platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, this option is missing.

Video

Via the CNBC iPad app you have unlimited access to over 150 new videos each day from CNBC, CNBC Europe and CNBC Asia. Content is also available from CNBC shows such as Mad Money and The Kudlow Report. We did find, however, that watching video can be a little frustrating, depending on your Internet connection.

Real-Time Personal Ticker

Users can set up a custom CNBC ticker with a list of their favorite stocks or choose from “CNBC Stocks to Watch,” “Indices” and “Top Headlines/Videos” lists.

Overall

The CNBC iPad app is definitely one of the cleanest and most robust financial apps we have reviewed. Being the only app currently offering real-time stock quotes sets it head and shoulders above the other offerings in this crowded arena.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cnbc-real-time-for-ipad/id398018310?mt=8