We propose a global expected business cycle condition factor (GEBC) relying on OECD leading economic indicators of 18 stock markets through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) approach, and show that this index is a powerful predictor for stock returns around the globe both in- and out-of-sample....

We provide a comprehensive study on the cross-sectional predictability of corporate bond returns using big data and machine learning. We examine whether a large set of equity and bond characteristics drive the expected returns on corporate bonds. Using either set of characteristics, we find that...