We examine the effects of opacity on bank valuation and the synchronicity of bank equity prices over the years 2000-2006 prior to the 2007 financial crisis. Investments in opaque assets are more profitable than transparent assets, and controlling for profitability, have larger valuation...

Opacity fosters price contagion that exacerbates the speculative cycles of bubbles and crashes that create financial instability. We find that banks with larger investments in opaque assets benefitted more from intra-industry revaluations associated with announcements of mergers in the period...

This paper briefly reviews papers presented at a JFI-Washington University Conference on the post-crisis evolution of banks and financial markets that are appearing in a special issue of the JFI. The major themes represented by the papers in this issue have significantly advanced our...

This paper briefly reviews papers presented at a JFI-Washington University Conference on the post-crisis evolution of banks and financial markets that are appearing in a special issue of the JFI. The major themes represented by the papers in this issue have significantly advanced our...