We derive general properties of two-factor models of the term structure of interestrates and, in particular, the process for futures prices and rates. Then, as a special case, we derive a no-arbitrage model of the term structure in which any two futures rates act as factors. In this model, the...

Recent work has suggested that strategic under performance of debt service obligations by equity holders can resolve the gap between observed yield spreads and those generated Merton (41) style models. We show that it is not quite correct. The value of the option to under perform on debt-service...

The objectives of this paper are to examine the effect of liquidity on interest rate option prices, and to determine whether it is driven by a common systematic factor. Using daily bid and ask prices of euro (not;) interest rate caps/floors, we document a negative effect of liquidity on option...

The objective of this paper is to provide a deeper insight into the links between financial markets and the real economy. To that end, we study the short-term anticipation and response of U.S. stock, Treasury, and corporate bond markets to the first release of U.S. macroeconomic information....

We address three questions relating to the interest rate options market: What is the shape of the smile? What are the economic determinants of the shape of the smile? Do these determinants have predictive power for the futures shape of the smile and vice versa? We investigate these issues using...

Recent research has shown that default risk accounts for only a part of the total yield spread on risky corporate bonds relative to their riskless benchmarks. One candidate for the unexplained portion of the spread is a premium for the illiquidity in the corporate bond market. We investigate...

Recent research has shown that default risk accounts for only a part of the total yield spread on risky corporate bonds relative to their riskless benchmarks. One candidate for the unexplained portion of the spread is a premium for liquidity. We investigate this possibility by relating the...

In an incomplete market economy, all claims cannot be priced uniquely based on arbitrage. The prices of attainable claims (those that are spanned by traded claims) can be determined uniquely, whereas the prices of those that are unattainable can only be bounded. We first show that tighter price...

Recent work in corporate finance has suggested that strategic debt-service by equityholders works to lower debt values and raise yield spreads substantially. We show that this is not quite correct. With optimal cash management, defaults occasioned by deliberate underperformance (strategic...