We develop an ex-ante measure of expected stock returns based on analyst price targets. We then show that ex-ante measures of volatility, skewness, and kurtosis implied from stock option prices are positively related to the cross section of ex-ante expected stock returns. While expected returns...

In theoretical models, liquidity and order flow volatility are determined by the same exogenous parameters. Thus, the variability of order flow can at least partially proxy for the unobserved (true) liquidity. Levels of and shocks to order flow volatility are indeed positively and significantly...

We propose that the volatility of order flow is a proxy for costs of information asymmetry, as order flow volatility varies positively with parameters that also influence adverse selection costs of trading. Empirically, order flow volatility is significantly higher prior to earnings or merger...