We consider likelihood inference and state estimation by means of importance sampling for state space models with a nonlinear non-Gaussian observation y ~ p(y|alpha) and a linear Gaussian state alpha ~ p(alpha). The importance density is chosen to be the Laplace approximation of the smoothing...

This discussion paper led to a publication in the 'Journal of Applied Econometrics'</I>, 2014, 29(1), 65-90.<P> We propose a new approach to the modelling of the term structure of interest rates. We consider the general dynamic factor model and show how to impose smoothness restrictions on the factor...</p>

This discussion paper resulted in an article in the <I>Journal of Empirical Finance</I> (2005). Vol. 12, issue 3, pages 445-475.<p> The increasing availability of financial market data at intraday frequencies has not only led to the development of improved volatility measurements but has also inspired...</p></i>