BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) adds Data APIs, Data Visualizations, Central Bank Watcher, Housing & Construction, Inflation Rates, and Interest Rates coverage that The Zen of Investing skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
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Thursday, December 4, 2025
Tool Comparison
BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) vs The Zen of Investing comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
The Zen of Investing includes Spin-offs, and Blogs categories that BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) omits.
In depth comparison
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
WebAPI
Pricing
Free
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.
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The Zen of Investing
thezenofinvesting.com
A free, niche site dedicated to spinoffs and special situations. It maintains curated lists of upcoming and recent spinoffs, often linking directly to investor decks, prospectuses, and filings. The site also offers RSS feeds for SEC prospectus and tender-offer filings, making it a useful resource for event-driven investors. No subscriptions, paywalls, or API access are offered.
Platforms
Web
Pricing
Free
Quick highlights
- Covers U.S. spinoffs and select international cases, with a clear focus on special situations.
- “Upcoming Spinoffs” list tracks definitively announced events, often with links to presentations and filings.
- “Recent Spinoffs” page compiles completed transactions, including prospectuses and investor decks.
- Archives investor-relations PDFs from major spinoff companies, such as DuPont or GE Vernova.
- Publishes RSS feeds that surface SEC prospectus and tender-offer filings for easy monitoring.
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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.
The Zen of Investing
Distinct strengths include:
- Covers U.S. spinoffs and select international cases, with a clear focus on special situations.
- “Upcoming Spinoffs” list tracks definitively announced events, often with links to presentations and filings.
- “Recent Spinoffs” page compiles completed transactions, including prospectuses and investor decks.
- Archives investor-relations PDFs from major spinoff companies, such as DuPont or GE Vernova.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) | The Zen of Investing |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Calendar Unique: Data APIs, Data Visualizations, Central Bank Watcher, Housing & Construction, Inflation Rates, Interest Rates | Shared: Calendar Unique: Spin-offs, Blogs |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Bonds, Currencies, Options, Futures, Commodities, Real Estate, Other | Stocks |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, API | Web |
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 | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and The Zen of Investing both support?
Both platforms cover Calendar 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 The Zen of Investing require subscriptions?
Both BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and The Zen of Investing 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 The Zen of Investing?
Both BIS Data Portal (Bank for International Settlements) and The Zen of Investing 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 The Zen of Investing stands out for Covers U.S. spinoffs and select international cases, with a clear focus on special situations., “Upcoming Spinoffs” list tracks definitively announced events, often with links to presentations and filings., and “Recent Spinoffs” page compiles completed transactions, including prospectuses and investor decks..
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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.