A few recent papers have derived estimates of the representative agent's risk aversion by comparing the statistical density of asset returns and the state-price density. The implied risk aversion estimates obtained in these studies are puzzling, exhibiting (i) pronounced U-shaped patterns (a...

We investigate the role of real estate in a mixed-asset portfolio when the maximum drawdown (hereafter MaxDD), rather than the standard deviation, is used as the measure of risk. In particular, we analyse whether the discrepancy between the optimal allocation to real estate and the actual...

In this paper we argue that book-to-market and size attributes represent sensitivities of firm returns to several risk factors, and in so doing they subsume the information in other attributes. Although this gives them high cross-sectional explanatory power, they are not very indicative if we...

In this paper we discuss some statistical pitfalls that may occur in modeling cross-dependences with copulas in financial applications. In particular we focus on issues arising in the estimation and the empirical choice of copulas as well as in the design of time-dependent copulas.

We present a new approach on shape preserving estimation of probability distribution and density functions using wavelet methodology for multivariate dependent data. Our estimators preserve shape constraints such as monotonicity, positivity and integration to one, and allow for low spatial...

This paper examines the intra-day behavior of asset prices shortly before and after large price changes. Whereas similar studies so far have been based on daily closing prices, I use three years of high frequency data of 120 stocks listed on the French stock exchange. Various systematic...

Using a sample of over 5,000 European firms, we document the driving factors of capital structure policies in Europe. Controlling for dynamic patterns and national environments, we show how these policies cannot be reduced to a simple trade-off or pecking order model. Both corporate governance...

I analyze the impact of the arrival of public information on the intraday trading of highly liquid stocks quoted on the Paris Bourse. Using the Reuters alert system, I gather a large sample of firm-specific news and analyze market behavior around news releases. I estimate the transaction cost...

This paper reviews some recent developments in the area of optimal international portfolio diversification and investigates important issues for future research. In the latest models proposed in the financial literature that generate optimal holdings over time, both the quantities of risks...

In this paper, we analyze the determinants of the capital structure for a panel of 106 Swiss companies listed in the Swiss stock exchange. Both static and dynamic tests are performed for the period 1991-2000. It is found that the size of companies, the importance of tangible assets and business...