Several studies incorporating estimated volatilities into option pricing formulas have appeared in the literature. However, the models described in these studies tend to perform quite poorly in out-of-sample tests. In particular, significant departures from the observed prices can be seen for...

Scale mixtures of uniform distributions are used to model non-normal data in both univariate and multivariate settings. In addition to providing greater modelling flexibility, the use of scale mixtures of uniforms also results in straightforward computational strategies, particularly in a...

A new simulation method, Auxiliary Random Functions, is introduced. When used within a Gibbs sampler, this method enables a unified treatment of exact, right-censored, left-censored, left-trucated and interval censored data, with and without covariates, in survival models. The models and methods...

We discuss the relevance of consistency to the Bayesian. Should consistency be dismissed as irrelevant or thought about seriously when constructing prior distributions? Strong opinions have been held on this matter, but it is probably fair to say it is a largely neglected area. Pioneers, such as...

This paper introduces a new family of Bayesian semi-parametric models for the conditional distribution of daily stock index returns. The proposed models capture key stylized facts of such returns, namely heavy tails, asymmetry, volatility clustering, and leverage. A Bayesian nonparametric prior...

This paper shows how uncertainty about the type of return distribution (distribution uncertainty) can be incorporated in asset allocation decisions by using a novel, Bayesian semiparametric approach. To evaluate the economic importance of distribution uncertainty, the extent of changes in...

We develop a new method to sample from posterior distributions in hierarchical models without using Markov chain Monte Carlo. This method, which is a variant of importance sampling ideas, is generally applicable to high-dimensional models involving large data sets. Samples are independent, so...