This paper examines the impact of anticipated and unanticipated interest rate changes on aggregate and sectoral stock returns in the United Kingdom. The monetary policy shock is generated from the change in the 3-month sterling LIBOR futures contract. Results from time-series and panel analysis...

We show that expansionary monetary policy is positively (inversely) associated with household portfolio allocation to high-risk (low-risk) assets, in line with “reaching for yield” behaviour. Our main findings are based on analysis of US household level panel data using alternative measures...