We test one of the main predictions of the financial flexibility paradigm that expectations about future firm-specific shocks affect the firm's leverage. We extract the expectations of small and large future shocks from the market prices of equity options. We find that expectations for future...

This paper analyzes the market microstructure of the European Climate Exchange, the largest EU ETS trading venue. The ECX captures 2/3 of the screen traded market in EUA and more than 90% in CER. Trading volumes are active, with EUA volume doubling in 2009. Spreads range from € 0.02 to €...

This paper analyzes the interaction between financial leverage and takeover activity. We develop a dynamic model of takeovers in which the financing strategies of bidding firms and the timing and terms of takeovers are jointly determined. In the paper, capital structure plays the role of a...

I evaluate a bank's incentives to implement a risk sensitive regulatory capital rule and to invest in improved risk measurement. The decision making is analyzed within a real options framework where optimal policies are derived in terms of threshold levels of risk. I also evaluate the situation...

Ein Überblick über in Deutschland emittierte Turbo-Zertifikate zeigt den enormen Erfolg dieser Finanzinnovation. In diesem Beitrag werden Long- und Short-Zertifikate bewertet und analysiert. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei die jüngst von einigen Emittenten offen kommunizierte Preisstellung...

This study investigates the number of state variables needed for CDS pricing by conducting a principal component analysis using CDS data for the 2006-2009 period. Two state variables, approximated by the first two components, are found sufficient for pricing CDS spreads. The first component...

We derive a general equilibrium linear relationship between the market prices of risks and market risk aversion under a continuous time stochastic volatility model completed by liquidly traded options. The relation is robust as it is valid for both endowment and production economies, and for...

The Wishart autoregressive (WAR) process is a powerful tool to model multivariate stochastic volatility (MSV) with correlation risk and derive closed-form solutions in various asset pricing models. However, making inferences of the WAR stochastic volatility (WAR-SV) model is challenging because...

In this study, we use both parametric and non-parametric methods to test the property of martingale restriction in KOSPI 200 index options market. Our results provide strong evidence that the property is violated. Further regression analysis and robustness checks suggest that market friction...

We develop the Nelson-Siegel model in the context of option-implied volatility term structure and study the time-series of three volatility components in the model. We show that these components, corresponding to the level, slope and curvature of the volatility term structure, can be interpreted...