In the recent years, di usion models for interest rates became very popular. In this paper, we try to do a selection of a suitable diffusion model for the Italian interest rates. Our data set is given by the yields on three-month BOT, from 1981 to 2001, for a total of 470 observations. We...

We study a new class of three-factor affine option pricing models with interdependent volatility dynamics and a stochastic skewness component unrelated to volatility shocks. These properties are useful in order (i) to model a term structure of implied volatility skews more consistent with the...

Do hedge funds hedge? In negative states of the world, often not as much as they should. For several styles, we report larger market betas when market returns are low (i.e., “beta in the tails”). We justify this finding through a combination of negative-mean jumps in the market returns and...