Interest Rate Risk of European Financial Corporations

We investigate the interest rate exposure of large European financial corporations' equity returns. For the period from January 1982 to March 1995 we estimate multifactor index models to examine the sensitivity of equity returns to market index returns and domestic as well as global interest rate movements. In addition, we specify an APT‐model to test whether an exposure to interest rate movements is rewarded in the cross‐section of expected returns. In the four European markets both domestic and global interest rate shifts constitute driving forces of stock returns beyond the influence of the domestic market indices. However, the exposure to interest rate movements does not seem to be rewarded in the same fashion among the markets.     

我国利率市场化的目标、障碍和对策探讨

利率市场化的实现表现在两个层面上:一是在宏观层面上,表现为借贷市场资金的供求均衡决定利率总水平;二是在微观层面上,表现为具体融资项目的当事人根据项目的特点,通过协商或讨价还价,自主决定融资项目的利率.目前,我国整个利率体系的基准利率确定困难、商业银行风险定价能力不足以及利率市场化之后可能出现的存贷利差缩小是推进利率市场化进程的主要障碍.本文认为:我们应根据现有市场条件构建基准利率指标,为各具特点的融资项目提供合理的定价基础;商业银行应在市场建设的同时积极实践,以提高风险定价能力;商业银行之间应避免过度竞争,以保持合理利差.     

我国货币市场基准利率研究

我国货币市场的参考利率一般有隔夜回购利率、7天回购利率和央行票据的发行利率。研究发现货币市场利率的走势能够引导债券市场的长期利率和总体走势；公开市场操作影响了货币市场和债券市场利率的走势；物价指数、货币供应量、金融机构存款的变化情况与货币市场利率具有较强关联性，并引导货币市场利率的走势。文章认为应从以下方面培育新的货币市场基准利率：将数量较大的短期国债拆分发行；剥离一定数量的央行票据，定期定量滚动发行；采用做市商制度对较长期限的回购利率进行双边报价。     

A Semiparametric Two-Factor Term Structure Model

This article proposes a semiparametric two-factor term structuremodel based on a consol rate and the spread between a shortrate and the consol rate. The diffusion functions in both theconsol rate and spread processes are nonparametrically specifiedso that the model allows for maximal flexibility of diffusionfunctions in fitting into data. The drift function of the spreadprocess is specified as a mean-reverting function, while thedrift function of the consol rate process is left unrestricted.A nonparametric procedure is developed for estimating the diffusionfunctions. The asymptotic biases of the nonparametric estimatorsare quantified when the step of discretization is fixed, whilethe asymptotic distributions of the nonparametric estimatorsare derived when the step of discretization tends to zero. Thepricing and hedging performances of the model are evaluatedin a simulated economic environment. Results show that the modelperforms quite well in the simulated economy.     

基于Nelson—Siegel模型的我国利率期限结构的构建

利率问题一直都是经济金融研究中最基础、最核心的问题。利率可以反映出资金的供求状况,并受到物价水平、经济周期和预期等的影响。本文基于中国银行间债券市场的交易数据,利用基于贝叶斯推断的马尔科夫链蒙特卡罗模拟（MCMC）方法估计Hautsch＆Ou（2008）提出的动态的Nelson—Siegel模型,以构建我国的利率期限结构模型。     

利率互换定价存在的障碍及解决办法

根据我国利率互换市场现状,着重分析我国利率互换定价目前存在的障碍,阐述一种可行的定价方法,通过拟合交易所国债的利率期限结构计算出远期利率代替未来浮动端的参考利率确定浮动端现金流,令利率互换固定端现金流与之相等,得出固定利率。定价结果表明本文阐述的方法能够提供一种较为有效的对利率互换定价的方法,可以作为实际交易过程中的定价参考。     

中国金融市场通胀预期——基于利率期限结构的量度

通胀预期量度在以通胀预期为导向的货币政策中的意义重大。本文利用卡尔曼滤波法将离散时间两因子无套利广义高斯仿射模型运用于我国银行间债券市场,第一次从中国国债收益率曲线中分解出金融市场的中长期通胀预期L。将L与居民通胀预期和经济学家通胀预期比较,发现从事前看,L优于经济学家通胀预期,稍逊于居民通胀预期;从事后看,L优于居民通胀预期,稍逊于经济学家通胀预期。综合看,L作为金融市场形成的、高频的、反映中长期通胀的预期指数,对货币政策制定具有现实的参考意义。     

我国利率结构初探

目前 ,我国金融市场整体框架基本形成 ,金融工具发行总量、交易总量也已初具规模 ,此时研究利率结构问题更显其重要性。本文从利率的风险结构、期限结构和决定结构三个方面探讨了我国利率结构的现状及存在问题     

A Fair Pricing Approach to Weather Derivatives

This paper proposes a consistent approach to the pricing of weather derivatives. Since weather derivatives are traded in an incomplete market setting, standard hedging based pricing methods cannot be applied. The growth optimal portfolio, which is interpreted as a world stock index, is used as a benchmark or numeraire such that all benchmarked derivative price processes are martingales. No measure transformation is needed for the proposed fair pricing. For weather derivative payoffs that are independent of the value of the growth optimal portfolio, it is shown that the classical actuarial pricing methodology is a particular case of the fair pricing concept. A discrete time model is constructed to approximate historical weather characteristics. The fair prices of some particular weather derivatives are derived using historical and Gaussian residuals. The question of weather risk as diversifiable risk is also discussed. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: primary 90A12; secondary 60G30; 62P20 JEL Classification: C16, G10, G13     

On the Information in the Interest Rate Term Structure and Option Prices

We examine whether the information in cap and swaption prices is consistent with realized movements of the interest rate term structure. To extract an option-implied interest rate covariance matrix from cap and swaption prices, we use Libor market models as a modelling framework. We propose a flexible parameterization of the interest rate covariance matrix, which cannot be generated by standard low-factor term structure models. The empirical analysis, based on US data from 1995 to 1999, shows that option prices imply an interest rate covariance matrix that is significantly different from the covariance matrix estimated from interest rate data. If one uses the latter covariance matrix to price caps and swaptions, one significantly underprices these options. We discuss and analyze several explanations for our findings.     

预定利率市场化必将促成寿险市场多赢局面

不放开传统寿险产品的预定利率,传统产品就无法做大,就无法发挥其社会保障功能。只要把住偿付能力监管,市场就不会出现无序竞争。展望未来,需要更多地站在行业的角度、客户的立场来开发产品、开拓市场,唯此整个保险业才能在社会保障体系中进一步确立应有的地位,才能充分发挥经济补偿、资金融通、社会管理三大职能,才能真正实现全方位的发展,才能真正让投资者分享到行业的成长价值。     

Interest Rate Risk Rewards in Stock Returns of Financial Corporations: Evidence from Germany

The interest rate sensitivity of stock returns of financial and non-financial corporations is a well-known phenomenon. However, only little is known about the part of total stock returns that is attributable to the compensation an investor receives for being exposed to interest rate risk when investing in equity securities. We pursue here a benchmark portfolio approach, constructing benchmark portfolios having the same interest rate risk exposure as a particular stock. By studying the time series of returns of these asset-specific benchmarks, we find: i) Regardless of the industry considered, the interest rate risk benchmarks of German corporations have mostly earned a significantly positive reward. ii) Returns of interest rate risk benchmarks of financial institutions exceeded significantly those of non-financial corporations. iii) An investor willing to bear nothing but the average interest rate risk of German financial institutions would have earned a mean return of about or even exceeding 70% of the corresponding total stock returns. iv) Returns of the interest rate risk benchmarks of the German insurance sector were significantly higher than those of German banks, which seems to contradict conventional market wisdom that insurances hedge interest rate risks.     

Libor Market Models versus Swap Market Models for Pricing Interest Rate Derivatives: An Empirical Analysis

We empirically compare Libor and Swap Market Models for the pricing of interest rate derivatives, using panel data on prices of US caplets and swaptions. A Libor Market Model can directly be calibrated to observed prices of caplets, whereas a Swap Market Model is calibrated to a certain set of swaption prices. For both models we analyze how well they price caplets and swaptions that were not used for calibration. We show that the Libor Market Model in general leads to better prediction of derivative prices that were not used for calibration than the Swap Market Model. Also, we find that Market Models with a declining volatility function give much better pricing results than a specification with a constant volatility function. Finally, we find that models that are chosen to exactly match certain derivative prices are overfitted; more parsimonious models lead to better predictions for derivative prices that were not used for calibration.     

基于预测利率期限结构变动的债券投资策略实证研究

利用交易所国债的交易数据,对基于利率期限结构预测的积极债券投资策略进行实证研究。结果表明,将该策略应用于中国的债券市场能够获得较好的投资绩效。     

Libor Market Models versus Swap Market Models for Pricing Interest Rate Derivatives: An Empirical Analysis

We empirically compare Libor and Swap Market Models for thepricing of interest rate derivatives, using panel data on pricesof US caplets and swaptions. A Libor Market Model can directlybe calibrated to observed prices of caplets, whereas a SwapMarket Model is calibrated to a certain set of swaption prices.For both models we analyze how well they price caplets and swaptionsthat were not used for calibration. We show that the Libor MarketModel in general leads to better prediction of derivative pricesthat were not used for calibration than the Swap Market Model.Also, we find that Market Models with a declining volatilityfunction give much better pricing results than a specificationwith a constant volatility function. Finally, we find that modelsthat arechosen to exactly match certain derivative prices areoverfitted; more parsimonious models lead to better predictionsfor derivative prices that were not used for calibration. JELClassification: G12, G13, E43.     

Understanding the Implied Volatility Surface for Options on a Diversified Index

This paper describes a two-factor model for a diversified index that attempts to explain both the leverage effect and the implied volatility skews that are characteristic of index options. Our formulation is based on an analysis of the growth optimal portfolio and a corresponding random market activity time where the discounted growth optimal portfolio is expressed as a time transformed squared Bessel process of dimension four. It turns out that for this index model an equivalent risk neutral martingale measure does not exist because the corresponding Radon-Nikodym derivative process is a strict local martingale. However, a consistent pricing and hedging framework is established by using the benchmark approach. The proposed model, which includes a random initial condition for market activity, generates implied volatility surfaces for European call and put options that are typically observed in real markets. The paper also examines the price differences of binary options for the proposed model and their Black-Scholes counterparts. Mathematics Subject Classification: primary 90A12; secondary 60G30; 62P20 JEL Classification: G10, G13     

高利率能否捍卫汇率稳定：基于马尔科夫变换的世代交叠模型的分析

按照传统观点,在本国货币遭受投机攻击时,中央银行的典型做法是提高短期利率来捍卫货币和汇率制度。但批评者认为,提高利率会增加经济发展的成本,容易引发信用恐慌和产出减少。通过建立一个基于马尔科夫变换的世代交叠模型可以发现,利率被提的越高,汇率波动率也会随之相应增加。当高利率的货币政策使经济增长放缓甚至衰退,维持汇率稳定的可信度下降时,投机者就会发动对本币的投机攻击。最后在外汇储备耗尽的情况下,中央银行权衡得失后不得不实行浮动汇率制。     

Optimal Loan Interest Rate Contract Design

This paper analyzes optimal loan interest rate contracts under conditions of risky, symmetric information for one-period (static) and multi-period (dynamic) models. The optimal loan interest rate depends upon the volatility of, and co-variation among the market interest rate, borrower collateral, and borrower income, as well as the time horizon and the risk preferences of lenders and borrowers. For a risk-averse borrower with stochastic collateral, variable interest rate contracts are, in general, Pareto optimal. For plausible assumptions, the optimal loan interest rate for the multi-period model often exhibits muted responses to changes in market interest rates, making fixed rate loans a reasonable approximation for the optimal loan. Hence, in the absence of optimal contracts, long-term (short-term) borrowers tend to prefer fixed rate (variable) contracts.     

基于套利理论与ICIR模型的债券市场发行定价偏离研究

基于套利定价理论与利率期限结构理论,运用Tobit多元线性回归模型,得出债券发行定价的主要影响因素为债券无风险利率、债券期限溢价、债项信用评级、债券主体信用评级和债券赎回风险溢价,在此基础上再通过改进的CIR定价模型(ICIR)对2006～2010年各债券定价偏离现象进行研究的结果表明,在1%的显著性水平上,ICIR模型测算的债券理论价格通过了二级市场的定价检验,ICIR模型对债券发行定价偏离进行检验具有较强的合理性;同时,从发行年份来看,近五年来,债券定价偏离总体呈逐年下降趋势,债券发行定价与ICIR定价与二级市场定价逐步接轨,市场化程度越来越高。     

A Binomial Basis for the Cox, Ingersoll and Ross Model of the Term Structure of Interest Rates

The technical demands of the Cox, Ingersoll and Ross (1985a and 1985b) papers are such that they can only be mastered by those who have a good understanding of some deep mathematics and statistical concepts, including the techniques of continuous time stochastic calculus and the measure theory upon which it is based, the Kuhn-Tucker theory surrounding non-linear optimisation techniques as well as variational methods founded on solutions of non-linear differential equations. Hence, our purpose here is to formalise both investor preferences and the supply side which underscores the Cox, Ingersoll and Ross (1985b) 'square root' model of the term structure of interest rates in terms of some simple binomial filtration processes, thereby avoiding most of the intricate technical detail contained in the original papers. These procedures not only allow for a more focused evaluation of the model's underlying strengths and weaknesses but also provide a framework for assessing some of the strategies which the model makes available for hedging exposure against adverse interest rate movements.