We study high-frequency exchange rate movements over the sample 1993–2006. We document that the (Swiss) franc, euro, Japanese yen and the pound tend to appreciate against the U.S. dollar when (a) S&P has negative returns; (b) U.S. bond prices increase; and (c) when currency markets become more...

In this paper we investigate the theoretical relation between financial leverage and stock returns in a dynamic world where both the corporate investment and finance decisions are endogenous. We find that the link between leverage and stock returns is more complex than the static textbook...

The aim of this paper is to study the impact of bankruptcy law on financing, investment, default and liquidation decisions of firms. We build a model in which a firm can finance its investment by issuing debt. The investment is risky. Because of risk, the firm may default. The firm manager takes...

This paper analyzes the important time variation in U.S. aggregate portfolio allocations. To do so, we first use flexible descriptions of preferences and investment opportunities to derive optimal decision rules that nest tactical, myopic, and strategic portfolio allocations. We then compare...

Momentum strategies based on continuations in stock prices have become increas-ingly popular among academics, money managers, and investors in recent years. While there is little controversy on the profitability of momentum strategies, their implementation is afflicted with many difficulties....

We study the influence of systematic probability misestimation on complexfinancial investment decisions on the context of structured financialproducts. Structured products have in recent years become more and morecomplex. We study the question whether this complexity might be a...

This paper examines latent risk factors in models for migration risk. We employ thestandard statistical framework for ordered categorical variables and induce dependencebetween migrations by means of latent risk factors. By assuming a Markov process forthe dynamics of the latent factors, the...

The aim of this paper is to explain why cross-sectional estimated migration correlations displayed in the academic and professional literature can be either not consistent, or inefficient, and to discuss alternative approaches. The analysis relies on a model with stochastic migration in which...

In this paper we explain how to use rating histories provided by the internal scoring systems of banks and by rating agencies in order to predict the future risk of a set of borrowers. The method is developed following the steps suggested by the Basle Committee. To introduce both migration...

Two well-known, but seemingly contradictory, features of exchange rates are thatthey are close to a random walk while at the same time exchange rate changesare predictable by interest rate differentials. In this paper we investigate whetherthese two features of the data may in fact be related....