Représentation VAR et test de la théorie des anticipations de la structure par terme.

This paper deals with the implications of the expectations hypothesis of the term structure on the dynamics of interest rates, which are supposed to have a restricted VAR representation. Constraints on the parameters of the restricted VAR lead us to prefer an indirect estimation based on the error-correction model. This approach is applied to euro-rates over the period 1975-96. The main results are the following: the expectations theory is well accepted for French and UK rates but largely rejected for German and US rates. Classification-jel: E43.Expectations hypothesis ; Restricted VAR representation ; “formal” test.

La mesure du ratio rendement-risque a partir du marche des euro-devises.

Nous etudions dans ce papier la relation entre le rendement et le risque pour les marches de taux sur l'euro-dollar, l'euro-mark et l'euro-franc, de 1975 à 1997. Nous testons la relation entre l'exces de rendement de portage et la volatilite a partir d'une modelisation ARCH-in-Mean. Nous trouvons tout d'abord que la variance conditionnelle évolue selon une dynamique non-stationnaire, qu'il n'existe pas d'effets d'asymetrie des chocs de rendement sur la variance et que la distribution conditionnelle la plus adaptee est la loi de Student pour l'euro-dollar et la GED pour l'euro-mark et l'euro-franc. Nous obtenons alors que la meilleure relation entre l'exces de rendement et le risque est obtenue lorsque le risque est represente par le logarithme de la volatilite pour les trois marches. Finalement, les estimations du ratio rendement-risque sont plus faibles que celles obtenues a partir des rendements boursiers, mais du meme ordre que celles issues des rendements monetaires et obligataires.Structure par terme des taux d'intérêt ; Ratio rendement-risque ; Modèle ARCH-in-Mean

Le contenu en information de la pente des taux : application au cas des titres publics français.

This paper evaluates the information content of the term structure about future changes in interest rates and changes in inflation rate, in France. A data set has been constructed, which contains zero-coupon yield curves on government bonds over the period 1980-95. The information content is generally very weak over the whole period. On the contrary, over the period 1985-95, the term structure contains information for certain maturities. On the one hand, spreads vis-à-vis 2-year rates are informative for future changes in short-term rates, whereas spreads vis-à-vis 3-year rates are informative for both future changes in short-term rates and future changes in long-term rates; on the second hand, the spreads from (2- versus 1-year rates) to (5- versus 1-year rates) and (4- versus 2-year rates) are the most informative for future changes in inflation rate.Term structure of interest rates ; Expectations hypothesis ; Fisher relation ; Information Content.

Conditional Dependency of Financial Series: An Application of Copulas.

We develop a new methodology that measures conditional dependency. We achieve this by using copula functions that link marginal distributions, here chosen to obey a GARCH-type model with time-varying skewness and kurtosis. We apply this model to daily returns of stock-market indices. We find strong evidence of persistence in dependency both for local currency and $ US denominated series. For European stock markets, we also find evidence that large simultaneous returns of either sign lead to higher subsequent dependency. We show that dependency changes through time, as well. For stock markets within Europe, dependency increased whereas it decreased since the mid 90s when involving the S&P 500 or the Nikkei. We also suggest extensions for conditional asset pricing models involving time variation of co-skewness and co-kurtosis.International correlation ; Market integration ; ARCH, Stock indices.

The Tail Behavior of Sotck Returns: Emerging Versus Mature Markets.

In the following paper the authors start with a review of theoretical elements of extreme value theory (evt). In the empirical section of this study they consider five mature markets, nine Asian, six Eastern European, and seven Latin American emerging markets. The tail-behavior of returns is found to be compatible with the existence of up to the third moment but not beyond. Using a subsample of countries they also demonstrate the limitations of evt. Finally they show that little can be learned from 19th century US data about presently emerging markets' tail behavior.Extreme value theory ; Generalized Pareto distribution ; Stock-market returns.

La théorie des anticipations de la structure par terme : test à partir des titres publics français.

This paper focuses on the expectations hypothesis of the term structure on long-term government bonds. Standard tests (based on the relationships between the change in the long-term rate and the spread and between the change in the short-term rate and the spread) lead to a puzzle close to the one obtained by Campbell and Shiller (1991) using US data. An approach based on stationarity of excess returns and error-correction models gives more details on these results: the expectations hypothesis is widely accepted when holding return is considered whereas it is systematically rejected when rollover return is considered.Term structure of interest rates ; Expectations hypothesis ; Cointegration ; Error-correction model.

Reading the Smile: The Message Conveyed by Methods Which Infer Risk Neutral

In this study we compare the quality and information content of risk neutral densities obtained by various methods. We consider a non-parametric method based on a mixture of log-normal densities, the semi-parametric ones based on an Hermite approximation of Madan and Milne, or based on an Edgeworth expansion of Jarrow and Rudd, the parametric approach of Malz which assumes a jump-diffusion for the underlying process, and eventually Heston's approach assuming a stochastic volatility model. We apply those models on FRF/DEM exchange rate options for two dates, for various maturities. Models differ when important news hit the market (here the 1997 snap elections). The non-parametric model provides a good fit to options prices but is unable under critical circumstances to provide as much information about market participants expectations than Malz's jump-diffusion model.Risk neutral density ; Option pricing ; Exchange rate option.

Conditional Volatility, Skewness, and Kurtosis: Existence and Persistence.

Recent portfolio choice asset pricing and option valuation models highlight the importance of skewness and kurtosis. Since skewness and kurtosis are related to extreme variations they are also important for Value-at-Risk measurements. Our framework builds on a GARCH model with a condi-tional generalized-t distribution for residuals. We compute the skewness and kurtosis for this model and compare the range of these moments with the maximal theoretical moments. Our model thus allows for time-varying conditional skewness and kurtosis.GARCH Stock indices Exchange rates Interest rates SNOPT VaR

The Expectation Theory: Tests on French, German, and American Euro-Rates.

This paper deals with tests of the expectations hypothesis of the term structure on French, German, UK and US short-term interest rates. Three tests are examined: the first is based on forward rates and the other two are based on the interest rates spread. First, we show that the puzzle highlighted by Campbell and Shiller (1991) for US data does not hold in the cases of French and UK short-term rates. Second, we propose tests for the expectations hypothesis based on error-correction specifications. These tests are shown to be much more favorable for the theory and the initial puzzle disappears.Term structure of interest rates ; Expectations hypothesis ; Error-correction model.

Optimal Portfolio Allocation Under Higher Moments

We evaluate how departure from normality may affect the allocation of assets. A Taylor series expansion of the expected utility allows to focus on certain moments and to compute numerically the optimal portfolio allocation. A decisive advantage of this approach is that it remains operational even if a large number of assets is involved. We show that under moderate non-normality the mean-variance criterion provides a good approximation of the expected utility maximization. In contrast, under large departure from normality (as found in some stocks in mature markets or in some stock indices in emerging markets), the mean-variance criterion may fail to approximate the expected utility correctly. In such cases, the three-moment or four-moment optimization strategies may provide a good approximation of the expected utility.Asset allocation ; Stock returns ; Non-normality ; Utility function