We construct synthetic, tradable risk factors (e.g., tradable HML and MOM) and individual factor legs (e.g., growth and value) using optimal combinations of large and liquid mutual funds and ETFs based on their holdings. We show that a large fraction of existing smart beta funds are simply...

By assuming that short-run returns are independent and identically distributed, it is straightforward to extrapolate short-run risks to longer horizons. However, by generalizing the variance-ratio test to include higher co-moments, we establish a significant and sizable intertemporal dependency...

Density forecasts contain a complete description of the uncertainty associated with a point forecast and are therefore important measures of financial risk. This paper aims to examine if the new more complicated models for financial returns that allow for time variation in higher moments lead to...

A conjecture in the literature holds that a large and diversified investor base leads to lower volatility by improving the quality of the price signal. In this paper this hypothesis is examined using unique Swedish ownership data. The data does not support the conjecture. Instead, volatility...

Based on a screening model, we hypothesize that borrower risk will be over- (under-)priced in recessions (booms), and the loan spreads' sensitivity to default risk as a function of economic growth will be inverse U-shaped. We test this prediction using a sample of 5,300 U.S. commercial loans...

This paper is the first to compare the ability of the two structural credit risk models of Merton (1974) and Leland (1994a, b) to predict bankruptcy. We investigate different implementations of the Merton and Leland models on the whole CRSP/Compustat universe of firms from 1980 to 2015. Although...

A conjecture in the literature holds that a large and diversified investor base leads to lower volatility by improving the quality of the price signal. In this paper this hypothesis is examined using unique Swedish ownership data. The data does not support the conjecture. Instead, volatility...