This article investigates the impact of margin requirements on the trading activity and volatility in futures markets. We extend Hartzmark's (1986) model for futures demand to allow for the costs imposed by margins to change across the maturity of the contract. The model is tested employing data...

This study examines information incorporation and price discovery in closely related markets that witness staggered openings. A theoretical model is presented. In this framework, one market, termed dominant, is the venue where most of the price discovery occurs, and the other is termed...

A theoretical model is presented, which predicts a heightening in return volatility following a news reversal. A reversal occurs when a value of an economic indicator that is larger than the forecasted value is followed in the following month by a value smaller than the forecasted value, or vice...

Employing intraday data for futures and cash values for the S&P 500 over the 1993–1996 period, we attempt to characterize the lead–lag relationship between these two markets and their basis behavior. Our findings show evidence of pronounced futures leadership when markets are rising, with no...