date_demo2.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

"""
Show how to make date plots in matplotlib using date tick locators and
formatters.  See major_minor_demo1.py for more information on
controlling major and minor ticks
"""
from __future__ import print_function
import datetime
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.dates import MONDAY
from matplotlib.finance import quotes_historical_yahoo_ochl
from matplotlib.dates import MonthLocator, WeekdayLocator, DateFormatter


date1 = datetime.date(2002, 1, 5)
date2 = datetime.date(2003, 12, 1)

# every monday
mondays = WeekdayLocator(MONDAY)

# every 3rd month
months = MonthLocator(range(1, 13), bymonthday=1, interval=3)
monthsFmt = DateFormatter("%b '%y")


quotes = quotes_historical_yahoo_ochl('INTC', date1, date2)
if len(quotes) == 0:
    print ('Found no quotes')
    raise SystemExit

dates = [q[0] for q in quotes]
opens = [q[1] for q in quotes]

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.plot_date(dates, opens, '-')
ax.xaxis.set_major_locator(months)
ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter(monthsFmt)
ax.xaxis.set_minor_locator(mondays)
ax.autoscale_view()
#ax.xaxis.grid(False, 'major')
#ax.xaxis.grid(True, 'minor')
ax.grid(True)

fig.autofmt_xdate()

plt.show()