Empty array returned when calling AlphaVantage APIs for NASDAQ tickers

Question

I cannot get any NASDAQ data from the Alpha Vantage TIME_SERIES_DAILY, TIME_SERIES_DAILY_ADJUSTED or TIME_SERIES_INTRADAY -- the returned array is always empty regardless of the equity or index symbol I use:

{}

This is the call I made to get that array:

https://www.alphavantage.co/query?function=TIME_SERIES_DAILY_ADJUSTED&symbol=NASDAQ:^IXIC&interval=15min

Notice I've used the NASDAQ: prefix. I've also tried using NSQ: instead -- with exactly the same results. I don't get this issue when calling for LSE (LON:) or NYSE (NYSE:) data.

I've tried a range of valid and invalid equity ticker symbols (e.g. GOOGL, MSFT) with either the same empty array result returned (if a valid ticker) or an expected error message returned (if an invalid ticker).

Am I doing something wrong here? Is NASDAQ listed using some other random collection of letters?

I've noticed some inconsistency between real-life ticker symbols, and the AV ticker symbols -- often enough that I've created a translation table so I can represent domain-useful information rather than AV-useful information. I'm hoping I'm just using an incorrect or outdated reference to NASDAQ to call the API.

Your help is much appreciated in advance!

Answer 1

TLDR;

Just look up the symbol (ie. AAPL or GOOGL). The IXIC is an index, Alpha Vantage currently does not cover indexes.

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Further notes:

1. Quotes from Alpha Vantage are aggregated, so any price you're getting won't be the price from what it's traded on the NASDAQ, but a quote of what the price is across exchanges.

2. If you're looking for a specific symbol, you can check for what it's listed as using the search endpoint.

3. Example here