This paper investigates the relative performance of local and foreign financial analysts on Latin American emerging markets.

I explain the key failure mechanics of large dealer banks, and some policy implications. This is not a review of the financial crisis of 2007–2009. Systemic risk is considered only in passing. Both the financial crisis and the systemic...

This paper examines why unsolicited ratings tend to be lower than solicited ratings. Bothself-selection among issuers and strategic conservatism of rating agencies may be reasonableexplanations. Analyses of default incidences of non-U.S. borrowers between January 1996and December 2006 show that...

Credit default swaps (CDSs) are among the most successful financial innovationsof recent years, which is reflected in the rapidly expanding market. CDS trading occurs inthe over-the-counter market, which relies heavily on broker intermediation to arrangetrades. We provide empirical evidence that...

The development of Asian foreign exchange markets has progressed appreciably in recent years. Data from the BIS Triennial Central Bank Survey indicate that the turnover of Asian currencies rose sharply between 2004 and 2007, financial institutions became more important customers, and the...

The financial services industry has undergone significant regulatory change in thepast two decades due to Basel II (banking) and Solvency II (insurance). Even though these promulgations are focused on European institutions, their influenceextends around the globe. An important dimension of this...

Using a panel of 425 European firms over the period from 1990 to 2005, we revisit Welch's (2004) finding that stock returns are the primary determinant of capital structure changes and that the corporate motives for issuing activities remain largely unexplained. We document that about half of...

Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert die Ausgestaltung der Desinvestition einer Konzerneinheit im Rahmen eines Buy Out an institutionelle Private-Equity-Investoren. Der Arbeitskreis Finanzierung der Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft hat dafür eine explorative empirischeUntersuchung von 33...

Rating downgrades are known to make subsequent downgrades more likely. We analyze theimpact of this ‘downward momentum’ on credit portfolio risk. Using S&P ratings from 1996to 2005, we estimate a transition matrix that is insensitive to and a second matrix that is sensitiveto previous...

Between 1999 and 2007, WR Hambrecht has completed 19 IPOs in the U.S. usingan auction mechanism. We analyze investor behavior and mechanism performance inthese auctioned IPOs using detailed bidding data. The existence of some bids posted athigh prices suggests that some investors (mostly retail)...