News
The new generation BOF-PSS3 simulator has been released!
BOF-PSS3 has a fully renewed user interface and better support for parallel processing. With the new architecture, the command line interface (CLI) has been replaced by a http API. For more information please check the new manual: User Manual BOF-PSS3 1.04.
Seminars & trainings
Annual Simulator Seminar will be organized in Helsinki on 29-30 August 2024.
Two days simulator training will be held before the seminar in August 2024.
BOF-PSS3
The Bank of Finland provides a multipurpose simulator, called BOF-PSS3 for replicating payment and securities settlement systems. The simulator is adaptable for modelling multisystem setups that can be combinations of payment, securities settlement systems and cash CCPs. The simulator supports agent based modelling (ABM) which allows to extend simulations to incorporate behavioral rules for participants’ active decision making and more realistic modelling.
The simulator is known to be unique and the first of its kind. Since its launch in 2002 the simulator has been distributed to many countries and it has contributed to numerous studies and research papers. The simulator can be used to fulfil some of the regulatory requirements stated in the PFMI and BCBS requirements, such as identifying liquidity and credit risks in FMIs (Financial Market Infrastructures).
The simulator can be used for:
- Agent based modelling (ABM)
- Analysis of settlement, liquidity and credit risks in FMIs
- Analysis of systemic risks and counterparty risks in FMIs
- Analysis of system and participant mergers
- CCP & CSD settlement simulations
- Evaluation of sufficiency of liquidity buffers and margins
- Identification of critical counterparts
- Liquidity analysis
- Multiple system and currency simulations
- Netting algorithm testing and development
- Network analysis
- Payment and securities settlement simulations
- Rule change evaluations
- Stress testing
- System development and prototyping
- System performance benchmarking
Currently, the simulator team is renewing the GUI for better user experience.
In contrast to static calculations of indicators, the simulation results naturally incorporate network (or systemic) effects arising from the payment flows and the technical properties of the infrastructures themselves. The results obtained from simulations are directly interpretable and have a self-evident meaning which is not always the case with all indicators. The results can be used directly for risk management purposes, for example when evaluating the sufficiency of liquidity buffers and margins. Computer simulations take advantage of using the available information in full without losing micro-level information due to indicator aggregations.
The simulator is freely available for research purposes and has already been introduced in numerous countries. It is possible to tailor and adapt the simulator to specific payment or securities settlement systems. Several adaptations have already been made, like for TARGET2.
The simulator team provides training, consultation and tailored adaptations which are priced for cost recovery. The training course aims at providing the necessary skills for efficient use of BOF-PSS3 with hands-on computer class exercises. It also presents numerous examples from real studies where the tool has been used. For more details see the training course outline. Minimum attendance for the session is four participants. Training is organized on demand, and it is also possible to order a training course to be held onsite outside the proposed dates.