In this paper we have studied the ability of relatively standard equilibrium asset pricing models to explain two important empirical regularities of asset returns extensively documented in the literature: i) returns can be predicted by a set of macro variables; and ii) returns are very volatile....

The GM and Ford downgrade to junk status during May 2005 caused a wide-spread sell-off in their corporate bonds. Using a novel dataset, we document that this sell-off appears to have generated significant liquidity risk for market-makers, as evidenced in the significant imbalance in their quotes...

We study IPOs by focusing on the degree of portfolio diversification of the shareholders taking the company public. We argue that a less diversified shareholder has more to gain from taking the company public and would be more willing to accept a lower price for the sale of its shares, i.e....

We study how competition in the mutual fund industry affects stock market liquidity. We argue that mutual fund families operate as multi-product firms, jointly choosing fees, performance and number of funds and sharing common research facilities. The family-based organization generates economies...

The paper analyses the effects of strategic behaviour by an insider in a price discovery process, akin to an information tâtonnement, in the presence of a competitive informed sector. Such processes are used in the pre-opening period of continuous trading systems in several exchanges. It is...

This paper makes indirect inference about the time-variation in expected stock returns by comparing unconditional sample variances to estimates of expected conditional variances. The evidence reveals more predictability as more information is used, and no evidence that predictability has...

This paper examines the dynamics of returns and order imbalances across the KOSPI 200 cash, futures and option markets. The information effect is more dominant than the liquidity effect in these markets. In addition, returns have more predictability power for the future movements of prices than...

This study examines a risk/return mismatch of the MSCI China Index, which has offered investors low returns and high volatility, yet remains a favorite within the global investors' portfolio. The paper suggests several insights, both from behavioral and traditional finance perspectives, to...

This paper explores the economic role credit rating agencies play in the corporate bond market. We consider three existing theories about multiple ratings: information production, rating shopping and regulatory certification. Using differences in rating composition, default prediction and credit...

"Limits of Arbitrage" theories hypothesize that the marginal investor in a particular asset market is a specialized arbitrageur rather than a diversified representative investor. We examine the mortgage-backed securities (MBS) market in this light. We show that the risk of homeowner prepayment,...