gistfile1.py

year_input = raw_input('Please enter a 4-digit year: ')

mylist = []
with open('F-F_Research_Data_Factors_daily.txt') as fh:
	lines = fh.readlines()
	slicedline = lines[6:-2]
	header = lines[5].split()
	
	for element in slicedline:
		yearstr.mkt.smb.hml.rf = element.split()

    if year_input == yearstr[:4]:

        	
            

        	
	

	print 'available factors: {0}'.format(header)  

	factor_input = raw_input('please enter a Fama-French factor:  ')    

    else:
	    exit('1st arg must be 4-digit year between 1926 and 2012')
	       
 
    if factor_input in header:
        len_list = len(mylist)
        sumlist = sum([float(y) for y in mylist])
        print '{0} values, avg {1}'.format(len_list,sumlist/len_list)

    else:
         print '2nd arg must be one of the four factors {0}'. format(header)