A new method of leading index construction is proposed, which explicitly takes into account the purpose of using the index for forecasting a coincident economic indicator. This so-called principal covariate index combines the need for compressing the information in a large number of individual...

This article proposes an improved method for the construction of principal components in macroeconomic forecasting. The underlying idea is to maximize the amount of variance of the original predictor variables that is retained by the components in order to reduce the variance involved in...

This paper demonstrates that the Conference Board’s Composite Leading Index (CLI) has significant real-time predictive ability for Industrial Production (IP) growth rates at horizons from one to six months ahead over the period 1989–2009. A popular but unrealistic analysis, which combines...

This paper demonstrates that the Conference Board's Composite Leading Index (CLI) has significant real-time predictive ability for Industrial Production (IP) growth rates at horizons from one to six months ahead over the period 1989-2009. A popular but unrealistic analysis, which combines...

Dynamics in iron ore markets are driven by changes in economic activities that affect commodity markets, trade flows, and shipping activity and safety. This article investigates the relation between these variables in Southeast Asia and the Australasian region. Steel production in China, Japan,...

<italic>The ongoing process of port reform has led to an increasing number of publicly owned but corporatised port authorities (PAs). The performance effects of corporatisation have been analysed, for example, for the airports industry, often showing positive effects. This paper reviews the literature...</italic>