Bloomberg Launches Online Request Utility and New Mapping Tools for the Financial Instrument Global Identifier (FIGI)

OpenFIGI.com and OpenFIGI API will Simplify the Process of Identifying, Mapping and Requesting New FIGIs

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Jan 20, 2016, 09:00 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Bloomberg announced the launch of OpenFIGI.com and the OpenFIGI API to provide exchanges, data providers, custodians and other organizations direct access to multiple tools for identifying, mapping and requesting the Financial Instrument Global Identifier (FIGI). These new web-based tools will help organizations search for existing FIGIs, request identifiers for new securities and cross-reference, or map, FIGIs to other third-party identifiers.

Based on Bloomberg's Open Symbology, FIGI is a free and open data standard and unique identifier of financial instruments that can be used across all global asset classes, including syndicated loans, common stock, options, derivatives, futures, corporate and government bonds, municipals, currencies, and mortgage products. In 2014, the international, open membership, not-for-profit technology standards consortium, Object Management Group voted unanimously to adopt FIGI as a standard methodology for identifying financial instruments across all asset classes. The consortium also nominated Bloomberg to be the Registration Authority (RA) and a Certified Provider for the standard.

"One of our goals for OpenFIGI.com and the new API is to enable organizations to break through the complexities of financial instrument identification and mapping by providing a central solution of unique identifiers across all asset classes," said Richard Robinson, head of strategy and industry relations for Bloomberg's Open Symbology group. "By utilizing FIGI to identify instruments, all information about those instruments can flow seamlessly between the systems of sell-side and buy-side firms as well as data vendors. This approach reduces cost, increases data quality and increases speed for all participants involved."

OpenFIGI.com provides direct access to multiple tools for identifying, mapping and requesting free and open symbology datasets. The website enables users to search the available Open Symbology data, access news and updates related to the FIGI, and obtain the OpenFIGI API specification. The website also provides powerful search criteria including access to increased coverage, the inclusion of additional fields, such as Share Class FIGI, and options to narrow down and pinpoint the results, which can be exported to Excel files without usage restrictions. Bloomberg's Open Symbology team will also use the site to share its subject-matter expertise about symbology, data quality, data governance, metadata and ontology.

The new OpenFIGI API allows mapping from third-party identifiers to the FIGI, and it lets users programmatically access related Open Symbology metadata. Results can be further filtered using exchange and MIC codes. Users should verify whether a license with a third-party provider is needed to map from or otherwise use their identifiers. Bloomberg accepts no responsibility for the improper use of third-party data.

Information on check digit calculation and how to request assignment of a FIGI for IRS and FUNDS is also available where one has not yet been assigned proactively through the standard process. Requests for FIGI assignment is limited to those parties issuing an instrument, and requires verification against the existing dataset.

"With FIGI, we are bringing the industry together by closing the gap in existing symbology systems," added Robinson. "As the financial industry's only open data standard for instrument identification, FIGI delivers all of the benefits at absolutely no cost – free to use, free to issue, free to redistribute."

Registered users have the ability to perform bulk-related services. However, users do not need to be registered, or be a Bloomberg customer, and there are no charges, fees, or license restrictions on the data obtained from the website. Firms and users that have adopted the Open Symbology and FIGI and wish to become recognized facilitators listed on the website are welcome to contact Bloomberg's Open Symbology team at [email protected].

About The Financial Instrument Global Identifier

The Financial Instrument Global Identifier (FIGI) is an open data standard for identifying financial instruments across all global asset classes. Defined and issued by the Object Management Group, Bloomberg was nominated to be the Registration Authority and a Certified Provider for the standard. The FIGI is a comprehensive, open and unchanging identifier that helps financial market participants, third-party data providers, exchanges, governments, settlement agencies and regulators improve connectivity, interoperability, transparency, and efficiency in the financial market place. The Object Management Group (OMG), is an international, open membership, not-for-profit technology standards consortium. FIGI is offered to the public domain under the MIT Open Source license and has no restrictions on use or redistribution.

About Bloomberg

Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company's strength – delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately – is at the core of the Bloomberg Professional service, which provides real time financial information to more than 325,000 subscribers globally. For more information, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/company/ or request a demo.

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SOURCE Bloomberg