Global economic growth at the end of the year strongly predicts returns from a wide spectrum of international assets, such as global, regional, and individual-country stocks, FX, and commodities. Global economic growth at other times of the year does not predict international returns. Low growth...

This paper develops an extension of Cochrane's (2008) joint hypothesis framework by allowing the coefficients to depend on the state of the economy. For recessions the results are clear-cut. Dividend yields vary entirely due to return predictability. However, in expansions, the "dog that did not...

This paper introduces a novel consumption-based variable, cyclical consumption, and examines its predictive properties for stock returns. Future expected stock returns are high (low) when aggregate consumption falls (rises) relative to its trend and marginal utility from current consumption is...