In this paper, we analyze factor uniqueness in the S&P 500 universe. The current theory of approximate factor models applies to infinite markets. In the limit of infinite markets, factors are unique and can be represented with principal components. If this theory would apply to realistic markets...

This paper theoretically and empirically investigates the connection between portfolio theory and ordering theory. In particular, we examine three different portfolio problems and the respective orderings used to rank investors' choices: (1) risk orderings, (2) variability orderings, and (3)...

This paper examines the properties that a risk measure should satisfy in order to characterize an investor's preferences. In particular, we propose some intuitive and realistic examples that describe several desirable features of an ideal risk measure. This analysis is the first step in...

The survival probability term structure has become the main concept in modeling credit risk for pricing, risk management, and investment decisions. The Kth-to-default contract is not only a relatively liquid credit risk instrument but also a vehicle that credit rating agencies employ to...

We consider a new approach towards stochastic dominance rules which allows measuring the degree of domination or violation of a given stochastic order and represents a way of describing stochastic orders in general. Examples are provided for the n-th order stochastic dominance and stochastic...

This paper examines the pricing of barrier options when the price of the underlying asset is modeled by a branching process in a random environment (BPRE). We derive an analytical formula for the price of an up-and-out call option, one form of a barrier option. Calibration of the model...

This paper discusses and analyzes risk measure properties in order to understand how a risk measure has to be used to optimize the investor's portfolio choices. In particular, we distinguish between two admissible classes of risk measures proposed in the portfolio literature: safety-risk...