Using a stylized two-period model we compare portfolio solutions from two local solution approaches - the approach of Judd and Guu (2001) and the approach of Devereux and Sutherland (2010, 2011) - with the true nonlinear portfolio solution.

Since the opening of the Central, Eastern and South Eastern European (CESEE) banking market, foreign banks, have started to invest in the financial sector of emerging economies. Economic research highlights that foreign banks have brought advanced technology, improved management expertise, upgraded risk management techniques and generally more efficient and competitive banking practices into CESEE countries (Clarke, Cull, Peria and Sànchez, 2002; Eller, Haiss and Steiner, 2006). However, there is hardly evidence about how this large-scale knowledge transfer has been achieved and what knowledge has actually been transferred. This paper intends to fill this gap. Two in-depth case studies of bank acquisitions by Austrian banks in CESEE give insight into the methods and content of knowledge transfer within the post-acquisition integration. A questionnaire sent out to CESEE subsidiaries of Austrian banks additionally provides information on the topic. The results show that knowledge transfer mainly occurs in international teams and during international meetings, trainings and development programs and that it is supported by information and communication technologies. Results further show that the content, methods and magnitude of knowledge transfer efforts change along the stages of post-acquisition integration. (author's abstract)

This paper examines return co-movements and volatility spillovers between major exchange rates before and after the introduction of euro. Dynamic correlations and VAR-based spillover index results suggest significant return co-movements and volatility spillovers, however, their extend is, on average, lower in the post-euro period. Co-movements and spillovers are positively associated with extreme episodes and US dollar appreciations. The euro (Deutsche mark) is the dominant net transmitter of volatility, while the British pound the dominant net receiver of volatility in both periods. Nevertheless, cross-market volatility spillovers are bidirectional, and the highest spillovers occur between European markets. (author's abstract)

Previous studies on spillover effects in future markets have so far confined themselves to static analyses. In this study, we use a newly introduced spillover index to examine dynamic spillovers between spot and futures market volatility, volume of futures trading and open interest in the UK and the US. Based on a dataset over the period February 25, 2008 to March 14, 2013, that encompasses both the global financial crisis and the Eurozone debt crisis, we find that spot and futures volatilities in the UK (US) are net receivers (net transmitters) of shocks to volume of futures trading and open interest. The analysis also sheds light on the dynamic interdependence of spot and futures market volatilities between the US and the UK. Specifically, the spot and futures volatility spillovers between the UK and US markets are of bidirectional nature, however, they are affected by major economic events such as the global financial and Eurozone debt crisis. Several robustness checks endorse our main findings. Overall, these results have important implications for various market participants and financial sector regulators.

We compare the performance of the perturbation-based (local) portfolio solution method of Devereux and Sutherland (2010a, 2011) with a global solution method. As a test suite we use model specifications that broadly capture features of international financial trade, between advanced economies, and between advanced and emerging economies. We consider both symmetric country setups and asymmetric setups, that capture important empirical facts such as differences in macroeconomic volatility, differences in portfolio composition, and high equity premia. We find that the local method performs well at business cycle frequencies, both in the symmetric and asymmetric settings, while significant differences arise at long horizons in asymmetric settings. (authors' abstract)

The aim of this paper is to analyze the pattern of speculation-led growth in Turkey. It is dependent on international capital flows, whose continuity becomes more and more critical given the current account deficit, which is estimated to reach 6.1% as a ratio to GDP at the end of 2005. The paper assesses the sustainability of this speculation-led growth in the context of EU enlargement and compares the current state of fragility with former crises in Turkey as well as in East Asia and Latin America. Following a severe financial crisis in 2001, Turkey has entered a new phase of fragile growth led by boom-euphoric expectations. The paper aims at explaining this new phase and the evolution of the risk perceptions of both the creditors as well as the debtors in this "speculation game" based on the post-Keynesian/Minskyan concepts of endogenous expectations and financial fragility. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

The aim of this paper is to analyze the fragility of the New Member States and accession countries in the Central Eastern and South Eastern European countries (henceforth Eastern Europe) to the turbulences in the global economy and the changes in the direction of the international capital flows. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Can momentum trading strategies beat Dutch or German stock market indices? If so, dothose strategies show significant positive net returns? For the period from March 2009 to March 2016this appears to be the case for only one out of the nine momentum trading strategies investigated withrespect to the Dutch stock market and for none of those same momentum trading strategiesinvestigated with respect to the German stock market. Furthermore, this research finds that the netmomentum returns seem to be winner- instead of loser-portfolio driven and that the longer the holdingperiod, the higher the net momentum returns realized.