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User guide

Structure of the eligible assets database

The following table sets out the structure of the eligible assets data stored in the files available for download. This makes it easier to export these data to local databases. A list of the attribute values is available in the Eligible Assets Dictionary. An XML version of this dictionary is also included in the RSS feed referred to below.

Field name1 Type

Max. length

Codes used

(1) Please note that the field names displayed in the user guide refer to the list of eligible marketable assets download files, which are available here. Where codes are used in a field they are listed in the lookup tables available via the MID RSS feed under the release title "List of eligible marketable assets. If you wish to subscribe to the MID RSS feed, please refer to the RSS user guide .
(2) Update: please note that the field HAIRCUT_CATEGORY refers to the "haircut categories" established in Decision ECB/2015/35. This leads to the following corresponding terms:
  • L1A= Category I
  • L1B= Category II
  • L1C= Category III
  • L1D= Category IV
  • L1E= Category V

(3) The information provided in the field “Potentially own-usable covered bond” refers to eligible covered bonds that can be own-used, subject to compliance with Art. 138(3)(b)(ii) of ECB/2014/60 (as amended). Please note that the value of this field has no binding effect for regulatory treatment of those assets, nor should it be construed as anything other than the Eurosystem’s own assessment of the eligibility of those specific debt instruments referred to above.

ISIN_CODE text 12  
OTHER_REG_NUMBER text 20  
HAIRCUT_CATEGORY2 text 3 Haircut category
TYPE text 3 Asset type
REFERENCE_MARKET text 6 Reference market
DENOMINATION text 3 Denomination
ISSUANCE_DATE date/time    
MATURITY_DATE date/time    
ISSUER_CSD text 6 Country of location
COUPON_DEFINITION text 3 Coupon definition
COUPON_RATE (%) number    
ISSUER_NAME text 255  
ISSUER_GROUP text 4 Issuer group
ISSUER_RESIDENCE text 4 Issuer residence
GUARANTOR_NAME text 255  
GUARANTOR_GROUP text 4 Guarantor group
GUARANTOR_RESIDENCE text 4 Guarantor residence
HAIRCUT number    
HAIRCUT_OWN_USE number    
POTENTIALLY_OWN_USABLE_COVERED_BOND3 text 3  

How to perform user-defined queries

The  assets query form allows users to submit individual queries on the eligible assets data. You can enter search criteria in each field on the form. If you enter criteria in more than one field, your entries will be handled as logical "AND" conditions. Each field type has its own features:

Field type e.g. Features
Edit box You can enter alphanumeric characters. This querying feature is case insensitive and performs approximate matching. You can enter several criteria, provided that these are separated by spaces. If a criterion itself contains spaces, the criterion has to be enclosed in quotation marks ("). Single quotation marks (') cannot be used for the time being. If you enter several criteria in one field, the query will match any of the options entered.
Drop-down box You can select only one option from a dropdown box.

You can use the "Clear filters" button to reset all settings in the form. After submitting the form, it will be possible to display the result on screen.

How to download files

Download data set

The ECB provides several files for public download in the Download area.

File format

Each file is available in compressed format (standard GZIP format), as well as in uncompressed format. Compressed files can be uncompressed using unzipping tools available for most operating systems (Winzip,  GNU zip).

In most browsers, to download an uncompressed file (extension .csv or .xml) and save it to your local drive, you can click on a hyperlink with the right mouse button and select an item named "Save link as...", or similarly, from the contextual menu which appears.

Data format

The download files can either be in a CSV or XML format to be directly used by other software, automatic processes or by the user in any kind of spreadsheet software. The used character set in MID for CSV files is UTF-16LE and for XML files it is UTF-16.

Receive datasets via RSS

To be notified about new information and to receive new data published by ECB RSS is the recommended channel. After subscribing to RSS service, all information published via MID are collected in one feed, accessible via URL http://mid.ecb.europa.eu/rss/mid.xml.

In every case when updated data are available a new entry will be shown in the RSS containing the links to retrieve the updated data.

The relevant part in the RSS feed is the release Title, ‘List of eligible marketable assets’

Security

All website pages are delivered through secure http. Files in the download area are also transmitted through secure http. For more information about the secure http protocol please refer to your browser documentation.

The MID messages for eligible assets contain a digital signature which is used to validate the authenticity of the sender (ECB) and to ensure that the message has not been altered after its creation. Further details regarding the usage of digital signature and how to verify it are explained in detail in the Integration Guide of MID.

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