UK utilities are generally regulated by the periodic setting of a price cap (the RPI-X mechanism). To establish these caps, regulators must determine what returns are appropriate on the capital employed by utilities. This paper addresses the issue of the level of risk inherent in investment in...

Points out that the decline in international economic differentials makes country effects less important and sector effects more important in managing equity funds; but that there is little research on sector and sub‐sector specific risks. Presents a study of sector and sub‐sector volatility...

Volatility in UK stock markets increased substantially during 1997-2000 relative to the past. This paper shows that much of that volatility can be attributed to a substantial increase in sector specific and sub-sector specific risk. Over this period the role of market risk as the driving force...