Taking the mean-variance portfolio model as a benchmark, we compute the optimally diversified portfolio for banks located in France, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S. under different assumptions about currency hedging. We compare these optimal portfolios to the actual cross-border assets of banks...

We compute optimally diversified international asset portfolios for banks located in France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., and the U.S., using the mean-variance portfolio model with currency hedging. We compare these benchmark portfolios to the actual cross-border asset positions of banks from...

Information costs and regulatory barriers are the main distinguishing features of international financial markets as compared to national financial markets. This paper presents a simple model of the impact of these factors on banks' cross-border activities and provides empirical evidence. Our...