We use a parametric portfolio approach to estimate optimal commercial real estate portfolio policies. We do so using the NCREIF data set of commercial properties over the sample period 1984:Q2 to 2009:Q1. The richness of this extensive data set and the flexibility of the parametric portfolio...

We use a quantile-based measure of conditional skewness (or asymmetry) that is robust to outliers and therefore particularly suited for recalcitrant series such as emerging market returns. Our study is on the following portfolio returns: developed markets, emerging markets, the world, and...

By employing leverage to gain more exposure to stocks when young, individuals can achieve better diversification across time. Using stock data going back to 1871, we show that early leverage combined with reduced equity exposure when older can reduce lifetime portfolio risk. For example, an...

Following the financial crisis of 2007, many global financial firms faced difficulties in borrowing U.S. dollars (USD). We estimate the premium global banks paid to obtain USD (the “USD basis”) by the rate banks pay to swap euros into USD in the foreign exchange (FX) market, while fully...

We investigate the effects of bull and bear markets on correlations between developed and emerging country equity returns, and on the benefits of combining international markets in a portfolio. We find that, contrary to most other studies, correlations fall in both bull and bear markets,...

This article covers the trading blowups at the hedge fund, Amaranth, and at the Futures Commission Merchant, MF Global. Although the lessons from the Amaranth blowup can best be understood in terms of market-risk principles, the lessons from the MF Global bankruptcy are best understood in terms...

This paper examines whether rare disaster can predict stock returns. We construct an aggregate rare disaster index by imposing the partial least square (PLS) approach on six news-implied rare disaster proxies of Manela and Moreira (2017). Our disaster measure strongly predicts monthly excess...

This paper explores the impact of global climate policy announcements on the performance of the fossil fuel and alternative energy sectors. I conduct an event-study analysis around the yearly United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP) meetings,...

This article reviews a class of trading strategies known as “weather fear premia” trades. It argues that these types of trades may comprise a type of risk premium and notes the extra diligence needed in their risk management. The article notes that both superior trade construction and an...

I present an improved equity momentum measure for corporate bonds and study the Euro denominated global investment grade corporate bond market between 2000 and 2016. I document economically meaningful and statistically significant corporate bond return predictability. In contrast to the widely...