STOCHASTIC DOMINANCE AND TRUNCATED SAMPLE DATA

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the chance of making erroneous investment decisions can be reduced by applying stochastic dominance rules to truncated, rather than complete, sample data of rates of return. A simulation approach is used that assumes the rates of return follow the symmetric stable probability distribution. Using a variety of relationships between probability distributions of rates of return, it is demonstrated that sample truncation has the potential of significantly reducing sampling errors in the selection between alternative investments.     

EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE

The introduction of municipal bond mutual funds in 1976 as an alternative for investors increases the importance of examining the factors that may affect the performance of municipal bond portfolios. Some sponsors of unit trusts claim that diversification across states, tax districts, and purpose of issue improves performance. This study finds only slight support for this type of diversification, and the conclusion is that the prime determinants of price volatility are maturity and risk-premium.     

STOCHASTIC DOMINANCE AND MEAN VARIANCE RULES IN THE SELECTION OF RISKY INVESTMENTS

This paper reexamines the methods of stochastic dominance and mean-variance analysis for the selection of risky investments. It takes as its starting point the paper by Gandhi and Saunders in the Spring 1981 issue of this journal in which they argued for the superiority of stochastic dominance analysis. In this paper the countercase is put forward for the use of mean-variance analysis. It is argued that while naive application of mean-variance criteria to the ranking of projects in isolation might lead to erroneous decisions, in the presence of reasonably sized capital markets rules based on mean-variance analysis still remain a more practical tool.     

REGULATORY INFLUENCES ON PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE: SHORT SELLING AND REGULATION T

Several models are developed to examine the portfolio effect of short selling. Three things are demonstrated in this study. First, that for many assets, short selling is a useful strategy for reducing risk when constructing mean-variance efficient portfolios. Second, Regulation T can be used in combination with short selling to further improve expected portfolio performance. Third, the performance of the suggested models is superior to previously suggested allocation models. Ex ante and ex post tests are conducted to arrive at the above conclusions.     

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE AND THE INTERACTION BETWEEN SYSTEMATIC RISK,FIRM SIZE AND PRICE-EARNINGS RATIO: THE CANADIAN EVIDENCE

While some American studies relate portfolio performance to P/E ratios, others reject such a hypothesis or find evidence of a confounded P/E-size effect. This prevents conclusive inferences. Canadian markets are structurally different from American ones; thus American evidence may not apply to Canadian stocks. This study examines how interaction between P/E ratio, beta and firm size affects the portfolio performance of Canadian stocks. The results show a relative support for the firm size effect, even after proper adjustment for risk and alternate change in control variables. This evidence is not uniform across different quarters of the year but not restricted to year-end effect. The findings also demonstrate a positive correlation among the three variables. However, one cannot generalize conclusions since the analysis may not capture all other pertinent factors.     

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE IN RELATION TO QUALITY,EARNINGS, DIVIDENDS,FIRM SIZE,LEVERAGE, AND RETURN ON EQUITY

This paper examines the risk-return performance of portfolios formed from S&P quality rankings over the time period 1970–1979. In addition, the risk-return characteristics of the portfolios are compared with performance as measured by fundamental data regarding earnings, dividends, firm size, leverage, and return on equity. The results suggest that the S&P quality rankings are closely correlated to risk as measured by the variability of returns and earnings changes, but the rankings are not correlated with the variability of dividend changes. The quality rankings are not uniformly correlated with mean portfolio returns or mean dividend changes, nor is the relationship between quality and mean earnings changes strong. Finally, quality rankings are related to firm size and return on equity. However, relationships between quality and leverage are discernible only at the extremes.     

BOND RETURNS,DISCRETE STOCHASTIC PROCESSES,AND DURATION

A particular duration measure may correspond to many different stochastic processes that generate fluctuations in the term structure of interest rates. There does not exist a one-to-one correspondence between the duration measure and an underlying stochastic process. In particular, durations derived from disequilibrium processes also correspond to equilibrium processes. Furthermore, it is shown that multi-factor discrete models of bond returns may also correspond to multi-duration models of bond returns.