Master-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2009.

Master-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2009.

The objective of this dissertation is to verify and explain the forward exchange rate unbiasedness hypothesis in the foreign exchange market. Since in most of the cases the unbiasedness hypothesis fails to hold, we try to provide three different explanations of this puzzling behavior in the three essays. The first essay tries to resolve the forward premium puzzle by addressing the model misspecification issue and thereby adding a time-varying risk premium term in the percentage change specification. The risk premium term is modeled using the GARCH-M representation and the model is estimated by applying a GARCH (1, 1) specification. The second essay attributes the failure of the unbiasedness hypothesis to hold to the nonstationarity of the spot and forward exchange rate. It verifies the existence of a cointegrating relationship between the spot and the forward exchange rates and thus specifies an Error Correction Model to better capture the relation between the spot and the forward rates. Further, a cointegrating or the existence of a long run relationship between the spot and forward exchange rates and the domestic and foreign interest rates is tested. It can be viewed as a robustness check where we ensure whether the cointegrated exchange rates are still related in the long run with the inclusion of the interest rates. The objective of the third essay is to apply the generalized method of moments (GMM) to test the unbiasedness hypothesis in the foreign exchange market. Empirical evidence suggests that the spot and forward rates are nonstationary with unit roots and are cointegrated. Cointegration further suggests that the changes in the spot rate can be modeled by an Error Correction Model. The third essay explicitly derives an ECM from the levels specification and uses the GMM estimation technique to test the unbiasedness hypothesis.

Thesis (M.Com. (Taxation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Accountancy , 2015. / Could not copy abstract

This thesis established the cubature method developed by Gyurkó & Lyons (2010) and Lyons & Victor (2004) for the Heath–Jarrow–Morton (HJM) model. The HJM model was first proposed by Heath, Jarrow, and Morton (1992) to model the evolution of interest rates through the dynamics of the forward rate curve. These dynamics are described by an infinite-dimensional stochastic equation with the whole forward rate curve as a state variable. To construct the cubature method, we first discretize the infinite dimensional HJM equation and thereafter apply stochastic Taylor expansion to obtain cubature formulae. We further used their results to construct cubature formulae to degree 3, 5, 7 and 9 in 1-dimensional space. We give, a considerable step by step calculation regarding construction of cubature formulae on Wiener space.

Diversos são os benefícios e objetivos de um profundo entendimento técnico do comportamento das taxas de juros, tanto de uma economia madura como de uma emergente. Do planejamento à execução de política monetária e da criação de cenários econômicos para tomada de decisão à alocação de recursos baseada somente nesses cenários, esses agentes podem fazer uso do arcabouço teórico que embasa as diferentes hipóteses de mercados eficientes e expectativas racionais, bem como do prêmio de risco, entre outras. Diante desse contexto, faz-se necessário estar em constante contato com o que a comunidade acadêmica desenvolve de tecnologia no estudo de curvas de juros. Este trabalho abordará as relações de cointegração e a possibilidade de elaboração de estratégias de investimentos de recursos financeiros baseadas somente nas relações descobertas. As diferentes modalidades operacionais foram escolhidas buscando replicar empiricamente no mercado de derivativos os fatores mais utilizados nos modelos de estimação e previsão de curva de juros e taxas a termo de juros. Visto que tais estratégias demandam mais sofisticação por parte do investidor, tendem a ser implementadas mais comumente por gestores profissionais e profissionais de bancos, e tentar-se-á mensurar seu potencial de retorno e sua remuneração frente ao risco tomado. / Many benefits and objectives came from a deep understanding of interest rates behavior in developed countries and in emergent markets. From plan to execute monetary policy, to create economics scenarios, the decision that are made based in those scenarios, and for any kind of asset allocation, all market participants can use the theory that underlies the efficient market hypothesis, rational expectations and all kinds of risk premium. In this context, it is necessary to be in touch with academic literature technology about yield curves. This paper addresses the cointegration relations on interest rates and the trading opportunities that came from these relations. The strategies was chosen looking for apply in the markets the most usual models present on yield curve and forward rate estimation and prediction fields. Since these strategies demand a higher sophistication from investors, they tend to be used for professional asset managers and bankers. This work intends measure the potential profits and the return towards the risk of this investment approach.

This volume contains five essays on topics related to interest rate theory.The first essay, Affine Term Structures and Short-Rate Realizations of Forward Rate Models Driven by Jump-Diffusion Processes, examines the problem of determining when a given forward rate model has a short-rate realization, and when a short-rate model gives rise to an affine term structure.The second essay, On the Inversion of the Yield Curve, co-authored with Tomas Björk, considers a general benchmark short-rate factor model of the term structure of interest rates. It is showed that the benchmark model can be extended so that the implied theoretical term structure can be fitted exactly to an arbitrary initially observed yield curve. A general formula for pricing simple contingent claims in the extended model is also provided.The third essay, An Efficient Series Expansion Approach to a Two-Factor Model of the Term Structure of Interest Rates, presents a two-factor model where both factors follow CIR-type diffusion processes. A series expansion is used to solve for discount bond prices. The model is also compared with a corresponding Gaussian model, and no substantial differences are found between the two models regarding the flexibility and shapes of the yield curves and forward rate curves they generate.The fourth essay, An Efficient Series Expansion Approach to The Balduzzi, Das, Foresi and Sundaram Model of the Term Structure of Interest Rates, revisits the model by BDFS, and apart from giving an explicit solution to discount bond prices by using a series expansion, the model is extended so that the implied theoretical term structure can be fitted exactly to an arbitrary initially observed yield curve.The fifth essay, Quasi Arbitrage-Free Discount Bond Prices in the Cox, Ingersoll and Ross Model, offers an example of a less regular solution to the term structure equation in the CIR model. This new and different solution fails to meet one of the standard regularity conditions, but only at one particular point. Under additional conditions, the solution can be interpreted as a term structure, which is referred to as a "quasi arbitrage-free term structure." / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk., 2001

Diversos são os benefícios e objetivos de um profundo entendimento técnico do comportamento das taxas de juros, tanto de uma economia madura como de uma emergente. Do planejamento à execução de política monetária e da criação de cenários econômicos para tomada de decisão à alocação de recursos baseada somente nesses cenários, esses agentes podem fazer uso do arcabouço teórico que embasa as diferentes hipóteses de mercados eficientes e expectativas racionais, bem como do prêmio de risco, entre outras. Diante desse contexto, faz-se necessário estar em constante contato com o que a comunidade acadêmica desenvolve de tecnologia no estudo de curvas de juros. Este trabalho abordará as relações de cointegração e a possibilidade de elaboração de estratégias de investimentos de recursos financeiros baseadas somente nas relações descobertas. As diferentes modalidades operacionais foram escolhidas buscando replicar empiricamente no mercado de derivativos os fatores mais utilizados nos modelos de estimação e previsão de curva de juros e taxas a termo de juros. Visto que tais estratégias demandam mais sofisticação por parte do investidor, tendem a ser implementadas mais comumente por gestores profissionais e profissionais de bancos, e tentar-se-á mensurar seu potencial de retorno e sua remuneração frente ao risco tomado. / Many benefits and objectives came from a deep understanding of interest rates behavior in developed countries and in emergent markets. From plan to execute monetary policy, to create economics scenarios, the decision that are made based in those scenarios, and for any kind of asset allocation, all market participants can use the theory that underlies the efficient market hypothesis, rational expectations and all kinds of risk premium. In this context, it is necessary to be in touch with academic literature technology about yield curves. This paper addresses the cointegration relations on interest rates and the trading opportunities that came from these relations. The strategies was chosen looking for apply in the markets the most usual models present on yield curve and forward rate estimation and prediction fields. Since these strategies demand a higher sophistication from investors, they tend to be used for professional asset managers and bankers. This work intends measure the potential profits and the return towards the risk of this investment approach.

Diversos são os benefícios e objetivos de um profundo entendimento técnico do comportamento das taxas de juros, tanto de uma economia madura como de uma emergente. Do planejamento à execução de política monetária e da criação de cenários econômicos para tomada de decisão à alocação de recursos baseada somente nesses cenários, esses agentes podem fazer uso do arcabouço teórico que embasa as diferentes hipóteses de mercados eficientes e expectativas racionais, bem como do prêmio de risco, entre outras. Diante desse contexto, faz-se necessário estar em constante contato com o que a comunidade acadêmica desenvolve de tecnologia no estudo de curvas de juros. Este trabalho abordará as relações de cointegração e a possibilidade de elaboração de estratégias de investimentos de recursos financeiros baseadas somente nas relações descobertas. As diferentes modalidades operacionais foram escolhidas buscando replicar empiricamente no mercado de derivativos os fatores mais utilizados nos modelos de estimação e previsão de curva de juros e taxas a termo de juros. Visto que tais estratégias demandam mais sofisticação por parte do investidor, tendem a ser implementadas mais comumente por gestores profissionais e profissionais de bancos, e tentar-se-á mensurar seu potencial de retorno e sua remuneração frente ao risco tomado. / Many benefits and objectives came from a deep understanding of interest rates behavior in developed countries and in emergent markets. From plan to execute monetary policy, to create economics scenarios, the decision that are made based in those scenarios, and for any kind of asset allocation, all market participants can use the theory that underlies the efficient market hypothesis, rational expectations and all kinds of risk premium. In this context, it is necessary to be in touch with academic literature technology about yield curves. This paper addresses the cointegration relations on interest rates and the trading opportunities that came from these relations. The strategies was chosen looking for apply in the markets the most usual models present on yield curve and forward rate estimation and prediction fields. Since these strategies demand a higher sophistication from investors, they tend to be used for professional asset managers and bankers. This work intends measure the potential profits and the return towards the risk of this investment approach.

This thesis examines the impact of shocks in spot prices on long-term forward contracts in power markets. A unique comparison of efficiency of German and Hungarian power markets is provided. The risk premium on week-ahead forward contract is scrutinized by both data inspection and by unbiased forward rate hypothesis (UFRH) testing. Additionally, the ex-post market's prediction error for this product is explained by main drivers of spot electricity price, which are presented in section devoted to introduction to power markets. Expectedly, Hungarian forwards with longer time-to-delivery are found to react heavily on spot market shocks after controlling for changes in short-run marginal costs of conventional power plants. Such outcome applies both to intra-day and weekly time horizons. However, this evidence was not found for German market. These results point out to immaturity and the presence of inefficiencies in Hungarian power market. However, Hungarian risk premia on week-ahead and day-ahead forward products turn out to be considerably lower than for Germany. This was confirmed by UFRH tests on week-ahead forward contracts, where a significant risk premium was found in Germany as opposed to Hungarian risk premium. This finding is surprising since Hungarian spot prices are more prone to upward...