We introduce a new and easy-to-calculate measure for the expected degree of herd behavior or co-movement between stock prices. This forward looking measure is model-independent and based on observed option data. It is baptized the Herd Behavior Index (HIX).

In this paper, we introduce two classes of indices which can be used to measure the market perception concerning the degree of dependency that exists between a set of random variables, representing di¤erent stock prices at a …xed future date. The construction of these measures is based on the...

In their seminal paper, Gerber and Shiu (1994) introduced the concept of the Esscher transform for option pricing. As examples they considered the shifted Poisson process, the random walk, a shifted gamma process, and a shifted inverse Gaussian process to describe the logarithm of the stock...

We investigate multiperiod portfolio selection problems in a Black and Scholes type market where a basket of 1 riskfree and "m" risky securities are traded continuously. We look for the optimal allocation of wealth within the class of "constant mix" portfolios. First, we consider the portfolio...

This paper illustrates an analytic method that can be used to determine the total capital requirements necessary to properly provide for the future obligations of a portfolio of annuity liabilities and to protect the enterprise from the related risks it faces. This example is based on the work...

We consider a continuous-time Markowitz type portfolio problem that consists of minimizing the discounted cost of a given cash-fl ow under the constraint of a restricted Capital at Risk. In a Black-Scholes setting, upper and lower bounds are obtained by means of simple analytical expressions...

The distribution of the present value of a series of cash flows under stochastic interest rates has been investigated by many researchers. One of the main problems in this context is the fact that the calculation of exact analytical results for this type of distributions turns out to be rather...