VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and okama will find that Both BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and okama concentrate on Data APIs, Data Visualizations, and Inflation Rates workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) leans into Calendar, Central Bank Watcher, and Housing & Construction, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. okama stands out with Quant, Portfolio, and Correlation that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) vs okama
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) adds Calendar, Central Bank Watcher, and Housing & Construction coverage that okama skips.
- okama includes Quant, Portfolio, Correlation, Backtesting, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Monte Carlo, and ETF Performance categories that BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) omits.
- BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) highlights: SDMX RESTful API for programmatic access to data & metadata; supports JSON, XML, CSV output; interactive API docs provided., Bulk downloads: each topic downloadable as a zipped CSV or SDMX file; topical packages show last‑updated stamps., and Release calendar with upcoming/past releases; exportable (CSV/Excel) and accessible via API; RSS feed available..
- okama is known for: Interactive Efficient Frontier (mean–variance) widget for quick visualization., Compare-assets widget covering returns, drawdowns, CVaR, and correlations., and Portfolio widget built on adjusted monthly data for risk/return analysis..
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements)
data.bis.org
Official BIS portal for global monetary/financial statistics with an SDMX REST API and bulk downloads. Covers international banking (locational/consolidated), debt securities, credit to the non‑financial sector, global liquidity, exchange‑traded & OTC derivatives, Triennial FX/IR derivatives turnover, property prices, consumer prices, effective/bilateral exchange rates, and central bank statistics (policy rates, total assets). Features include a release calendar (with RSS), shareable query links, bookmarks, custom charts/tables, and export to Excel/CSV/PDF. API adheres to the SDMX REST v2.1 spec; formats include JSON, XML, and CSV.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- SDMX RESTful API for programmatic access to data & metadata; supports JSON, XML, CSV output; interactive API docs provided.
- Bulk downloads: each topic downloadable as a zipped CSV or SDMX file; topical packages show last‑updated stamps.
- Release calendar with upcoming/past releases; exportable (CSV/Excel) and accessible via API; RSS feed available.
- Portal exports: Excel/CSV for selected time series (up to 4,500 series per export); Tables & Dashboards can be exported as PDF.
- Code snippets generator (Python/R/Matlab) to fetch selected series via the SDMX API; shareable URLs preserve filters/settings.
okama
okama.io
Free open-source toolkit for portfolio analysis and market data. Okama offers web widgets, an API, and a Python library with efficient frontiers, risk metrics, and Monte Carlo simulations. Market and macro data is available end-of-day, with live prices delayed by ~15–20 minutes.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Interactive Efficient Frontier (mean–variance) widget for quick visualization.
- Compare-assets widget covering returns, drawdowns, CVaR, and correlations.
- Portfolio widget built on adjusted monthly data for risk/return analysis.
- Python library supports mean–variance optimization, rebalancing scenarios, backtesting, and advanced risk metrics such as VaR, CVaR, semideviation, and drawdowns.
- Monte Carlo simulations and wealth-index forecasts with percentile bands.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements)
Distinct strengths include:
- SDMX RESTful API for programmatic access to data & metadata; supports JSON, XML, CSV output; interactive API docs provided.
- Bulk downloads: each topic downloadable as a zipped CSV or SDMX file; topical packages show last‑updated stamps.
- Release calendar with upcoming/past releases; exportable (CSV/Excel) and accessible via API; RSS feed available.
- Portal exports: Excel/CSV for selected time series (up to 4,500 series per export); Tables & Dashboards can be exported as PDF.
okama
Distinct strengths include:
- Interactive Efficient Frontier (mean–variance) widget for quick visualization.
- Compare-assets widget covering returns, drawdowns, CVaR, and correlations.
- Portfolio widget built on adjusted monthly data for risk/return analysis.
- Python library supports mean–variance optimization, rebalancing scenarios, backtesting, and advanced risk metrics such as VaR, CVaR, semideviation, and drawdowns.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) | okama |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data APIs, Data Visualizations, Inflation Rates, Interest Rates Unique: Calendar, Central Bank Watcher, Housing & Construction | Shared: Data APIs, Data Visualizations, Inflation Rates, Interest Rates Unique: Quant, Portfolio, Correlation, Backtesting, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Monte Carlo, ETF Performance |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Bonds, Currencies, Options, Futures, Commodities, Real Estate, Other | Stocks, ETFs, Commodities, Currencies, Mutual Funds |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, API | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free | Free |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and okama both support?
Both platforms cover Data APIs, Data Visualizations, Inflation Rates, and Interest Rates workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and okama require subscriptions?
Both BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and okama keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and okama?
Both BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and okama prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) differentiates itself with SDMX RESTful API for programmatic access to data & metadata; supports JSON, XML, CSV output; interactive API docs provided., Bulk downloads: each topic downloadable as a zipped CSV or SDMX file; topical packages show last‑updated stamps., and Release calendar with upcoming/past releases; exportable (CSV/Excel) and accessible via API; RSS feed available., whereas okama stands out for Interactive Efficient Frontier (mean–variance) widget for quick visualization., Compare-assets widget covering returns, drawdowns, CVaR, and correlations., and Portfolio widget built on adjusted monthly data for risk/return analysis..
Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.