Supported by empirical examples, this paper provides a theoretical analysis on the impacts of using a suboptimal information set for the estimation of the empirical pricing kernel and, more in general, for the validity of the fundamental theorems of asset pricing. While inferring the...

The Black-Scholes framework implies a constant volatility across term and strike, and a lognormal distribution for underlying asset prices. However, it is known that empirical data violates this assumption. In this report we describe, motivate and apply a model-independent,...

This paper analyzes empirical market utility functions and pricing kernels derived from the DAX and DAX option data for three market regimes. A consistent parametric framework of stochastic volatility is used. All empirical market utility functions show a region of risk proclivity that is...

We provide evidence of a strong effect of the underlying stock's illiquidity on option prices by showing that the average absolute difference between historical and implied volatility increases with stock illiquidity. This pattern translates into significant excess returns of option trading...

The aim of this paper is to extract credit-risk sensitive information from the quotes of equity options and CDSs. In particular, we wish to estimate the firm's leverage, as it is perceived by traders. This goal is achieved within a model à la Leland (1994), where stockholders have a perpetual...

In this paper, we combine modern portfolio theory and option pricing theory so that a trader who takes a position in a European option contract and the underlying assets can construct an optimal portfolio such that at the moment of the contract's maturity the contract is perfectly hedged. We...

Informed traders may prefer the options market to the stock market for reasons including the leverage effect, transaction costs, restrictions on short sale. Many studies try to predict future returns of stocks using informed traders' behavior in the options market. In this study, we examine...

This paper improves continuous-time variance swap approximation formulas to derive exact returns on benchmark VIX option portfolios. The new methodology preserves the variance swap interpretation that decomposes returns into realized variance and option implied-variance.We apply this new...

In this study, we investigate the determinants of convenience yields across a broad range of commodities. We find that the convenience yields of commodities are exposed to both commodity-specific and systematic factors, but to a different extent. The difference in explanatory power of these...

In this study, we investigate the determinants of convenience yields across a broad range of commodities. We find that the convenience yields of commodities are exposed to both commodity-specific and systematic factors, but to a different extent. The difference in explanatory power of these...