We propose a simple equilibrium model, where the physical and the derivative markets of the commodity interact. There are three types of agents: industrial pro- cessors, inventory holders and speculators. Only the two first of them operate in the physical market. All of them, however, may...

This paper analyses the impact of competition among downstream firms on an upstream firm's payoff and on its incentive to vertically integrate when firms on both segments negotiate optimal contracts. We argue that tougher competition decreases the downstream industry profit, but improves the...

The competition between SEAQ International and Continental European equity markets to attract transactions in the most actively traded European stocks has intensified since the late 1980s. Because their transactions are organised in a different manner, and because reporting standards are not the...

This article is centred on the volatility of commodity prices. It presents the instruments offering a protection against volatility and shows how they can be employed. The first section exposes these derivative instruments. It distinguishes them in step with the need they respond and the way...

This paper uses a stylised asset-pricing model to show that sunspots may cause asset returns to be predictable, a widely documented feature of many speculative markets. This result parallels and extends previous works showing that sunspots render asset prices excessively volatile.

Acteurs incontournables des marchés financiers, les hedge funds demeurent mal connus. Qui sont-ils ? Quelles sont leur techniques de gestion ? Qu'offrent-ils de différent en termes de performance et de risque ?