I would like to create the most basic client

I want to make a simple program (bitcoin related) which "fetches" information from a data file on a web hosting account of mine.
It searches values from say, a .txt file, and then displays that information on the screen to the user. This .txt file would contain information such as prices and statistics which I would update on a daily basis. This program would be opened from an executable file on the users computer, so I am not trying to integrate it into a browser or anything..

What is the best way to do this for someone with very limited programming experience? I used to do very simple things with basic / visual basic many many years ago and I realize the need to educate myself again on some very basic things.

What I am asking for, however, is which direction to go in. Can I accomplish this sort of thing with visual basic? Should I learn SQL?