We propose a new approach to measuring informed trading in individual securities based on a portfolio optimization model for investors facing information and liquidity shocks. These shocks induce speculative and liquidity-motivated order flow, taking into account the price impact of trading. The...

This paper investigates the economic viability and welfare contribution of alternatives to issuer-paid credit rating agencies (CRAs). To this end, it introduces a heterogeneous competition model for lending and ratings markets. Frictions among issuers or investors induce rating inflation from...

We investigate the nature of cross-sectional asset pricing effects of intangibles. Intangible asset intensity relates strongly positively to stock returns and has more explanatory power than size, value, profitability, and investment. Adding an intangibles factor improves the Fama-French...

This paper examines whether the risk of future collateral fire sales affects lending decisions. We study US mortgage applications and exploit exogenous variation in foreclosure frictions for identification. We find that lenders are less likely to approve mortgages when anticipated losses due to...