We derive nonparametric bounds for inference about functionals of high-frequency volatility, in particular, integrated power variance. In the absence of microstructure noise, we find that standard Realized Variance attains the nonparametric efficiency bound, also in case of unequally spaced...

An exact discretization of continuous time stochastic volatility processes observed at irregularly spaced times is used to give insights on how a coherent GARCH model can be specified for such data. The relation of our approach with those in the existing literature is studied

Stock and options markets can disagree about a stock's value because of informed trading in options and/or price pressure in the stock. The predictability of stock returns based on this cross- market discrepancy in values is especially strong when accompanied by stock price pressure, and it does...

Estimation of risk-neutral (RN) moments is of great interest to both academics and practitioners. We study 1) the model-free measure of RN moments by Bakshi, Kapadia and Madan (2003); 2) RN moments that are used in the VIX and SKEW index by the Chicago Board Options Exchange; 3) nonparametric RN...

Time-varying leverage driven by common shocks to firm asset returns introduces a factor structure in idiosyncratic equity return volatilities (IVOL). In a standard dynamic capital structure model in which the CAPM holds for asset returns, we show that three factors explain the IVOL...