What is reference data? Uses, Types & Dataset Examples

What is Reference Data?

Reference Data is a fundamental asset that is used in credit derivatives to protect debt holders from risky borrowers. It is usually in the form of bonds, treasury notes, or other debt-supporting collaterals stated by borrowers. The purpose of reference data is to assign the risk of default to a third party in order to cushion lenders against the possibility of the borrower defaulting on the debt.

Examples of reference data include country codes, currency codes, industry classifications, and product codes. Reference data is used to provide standardized and consistent values for specific attributes or characteristics. It helps in ensuring data integrity, facilitating data integration, and enabling accurate analysis and reporting. In this page, you’ll find the best data sources for reference data sets.