count a negative cache entry as cache - we will never see data from this provider

src/cache/store.zig

@@ -1236,7 +1236,18 @@ pub const Store = struct {
     }
 
     /// Check if candle metadata is fresh using the embedded `#!expires=` directive.
+    ///
+    /// A negative cache entry ("this symbol has no candle data on any
+    /// provider") counts as fresh, so the portfolio price fast-path
+    /// (`isCandleCacheFresh`) does not re-fetch it on every run. The
+    /// marker lives in `candles_daily.srf` - written by `writeNegative`
+    /// on a permanent NotFound, or synced verbatim from a `ZFIN_SERVER` -
+    /// and is honored there directly because `candles_meta.srf` is never
+    /// created for a no-data symbol. Cleared by `--refresh-data=force` /
+    /// `cache clear`.
     pub fn isCandleMetaFresh(self: *Store, symbol: []const u8) bool {
+        if (self.isNegative(symbol, .candles_daily)) return true;
+
         const raw = self.readRaw(symbol, .candles_meta) catch return false;
         const data = raw orelse return false;
         defer self.allocator.free(data);
@@ -3332,6 +3343,38 @@ test "Store.read does not self-heal an intact candles_daily" {
     try std.testing.expectError(error.FileNotFound, std.Io.Dir.cwd().access(std.testing.io, torn_dir_path, .{}));
 }
 
+test "isCandleMetaFresh: negative candles_daily counts as fresh even with no candles_meta" {
+    const io = std.testing.io;
+    var tmp = std.testing.tmpDir(.{});
+    defer tmp.cleanup();
+    const dir_path = try tmp.dir.realPathFileAlloc(io, ".", testing.allocator);
+    defer testing.allocator.free(dir_path);
+
+    var store = Store.init(io, testing.allocator, dir_path);
+
+    // A symbol with no candle data on any provider (e.g. crypto like
+    // DOGE-USD that Tiingo can't serve): the negative marker is written
+    // to candles_daily.srf and candles_meta.srf is never created. It must
+    // read as fresh so the portfolio price fast-path doesn't re-fetch it
+    // (and re-sync from a ZFIN_SERVER) on every run.
+    try store.ensureSymbolDir("DOGE-USD");
+    store.writeNegative("DOGE-USD", .candles_daily);
+    try std.testing.expect(store.isCandleMetaFresh("DOGE-USD"));
+
+    // A real, unexpired candles_meta is still fresh...
+    try store.ensureSymbolDir("AAA");
+    try store.writeRaw("AAA", .candles_meta, "#!srfv1\n#!expires=9999999999\n#!created=1777000000\nlast_close:num:1.0,last_date::2026-04-22\n");
+    try std.testing.expect(store.isCandleMetaFresh("AAA"));
+
+    // ...and a past-due one is not.
+    try store.ensureSymbolDir("BBB");
+    try store.writeRaw("BBB", .candles_meta, "#!srfv1\n#!expires=1000000000\n#!created=999999999\nlast_close:num:1.0,last_date::2026-04-22\n");
+    try std.testing.expect(!store.isCandleMetaFresh("BBB"));
+
+    // A symbol with no candle files at all is not fresh.
+    try std.testing.expect(!store.isCandleMetaFresh("ZZZ"));
+}
+
 test "Store.dataTypeFor maps model types correctly" {
     try std.testing.expectEqual(DataType.candles_daily, Store.dataTypeFor(Candle));
     try std.testing.expectEqual(DataType.dividends, Store.dataTypeFor(Dividend));