In this paper we address three main objections of behavioral finance to the theory of rational finance, considered as “anomalies” the theory of rational finance cannot explain: (i) Predictability of asset returns; (ii) The Equity Premium; (iii) The Volatility Puzzle. We offer resolutions of...

We implement a novel approach to derive investor sentiment from messages posted on social media before we explore the relation between online investor sentiment and intraday stock returns. Using an extensive dataset of messages posted on the microblogging platform StockTwits, we construct a...

We investigate the empirical implications of investors' heterogeneous preferences for skewness with respect to the idiosyncratic volatility (IVOL) puzzle (the negative correlation between idiosyncratic volatility and mean returns). We show that the IVOL puzzle is stronger: (1) within those...

Despite assumptions of mean-variance efficiency that underlie most asset pricing models, investors have shown a penchant for positive skewness. This study documents that the ratio of call option volume relative to total option volume is greatest for stocks with return distributions that resemble...

This paper analyzes empirical market utility functions and pricing kernels derived from the DAX and DAX option data for three market regimes. A consistent parametric framework of stochastic volatility is used. All empirical market utility functions show a region of risk proclivity that is...

A measure of the propensity to gamble in casinos constructed without any asset price data provides relevant information for asset pricing. This measure of risk appetite improves the fit of conditional asset pricing models such as the conditional CAPM, explains cross-sectional differences in...

The author identifies and explains asymmetric reactions in implied volatility of S&P 500 Index options across the term structure based on news sentiment. The asymmetry of the reaction is more pronounced for fear (proxied by put options) than for greed (proxied by call options). This asymmetry is...

We estimate the relative signal jump variance (RSJV) as the difference between the realized positive half-variance and negative half-variance divided by the realized variance using high-frequency intraday data and investigate its role in the cross-sectional pricing in the Chinese stock market....

This study aims at comparing Google Search Volume Indices (GSVIs—including market crash and bear market) and VIX (Investor Fear Gauge Index) in terms of explaining the S&P 500 returns. The VIX is found a more robust predictor of stock market returns than Google indices, and it does granger...