The influence of intraday seasonality on volatility transmission pattern

Using data on a five-minute interval basis, this article analyses the effects of intraday seasonality on volatility transmission between the spot and futures markets of the CAC40, DAX30 and FTSE100. Remarkable differences in the impulse response analysis and in the dynamic and directional measurement of volatility spillovers are encountered depending on whether the intraday periodic component is considered. Thus, the convenience of removing intraday seasonality seems to be critical to reduce the risk of spurious causality when employing high-frequency data in volatility transmission. Moreover, the impact of market microstructure noise seems negligible when using an optimal frequency of observations.     

Random matrix application to correlations amongst the volatility of assets

In this paper, we apply tools from random matrix theory (RMT) to estimates of correlations across the volatility of various assets in the S&P 500. The volatility inputs are estimated by modelling price fluctuations as a GARCH(1,1) process. The corresponding volatility correlation matrix is then constructed. It is found that the distribution of a significant number of eigenvalues of the volatility correlation matrix matches with the analytical result from RMT. Furthermore, the empirical estimates of short- and long-range correlations amongst eigenvalues, which are within RMT bounds, match with the analytical results for the Gaussian Orthogonal ensemble of RMT. To understand the information content of the largest eigenvectors, we estimate the contribution of the Global Industry Classification Standard industry groups to each eigenvector. In comparison with eigenvectors of correlation matrix for price fluctuations, only few of the largest eigenvectors of the volatility correlation matrix are dominated by a single industry group. We also study correlations between ‘volatility returns’ and log-volatility to find similar results.     

A State‐Price Volatility Index for China's Stock Market

This study derives a volatility index for China's stock market with similar properties to the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (the ‘VIX’). A long‐term benchmark of historic volatility expectations is here presented for China from 1996 to 2011, called the ‘China‐ State‐Price Volatility (SPV)’. Construction of this index involves the use of SPV methodology, using implied volatility calculated from options on the Hang Seng China Enterprise Index (HSCEI). Historic open–high–low–close volatility on the Shanghai Composite Index (SHCI) is also used to extend the benchmark prior to the availability of HSCEI options data. The China‐SPV successfully forecasts realised volatility for the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It also serves as a ‘fear gauge’ in that it monitors daily movements of the SHCI in the same way that the VIX monitors the S&P 500 index (Whaley, 2009). The China‐SPV evidences an increasing relation with the US market in terms of the dynamic correlation of levels and changes with the VIX since 2004.     

Spillovers of volatility index: evidence from U.S., European,and Asian stock markets

We investigated the cross-market relations of volatility indexes with U.S. and non-U.S. stock market returns. We found that the pervasive VIX influence at both U.S. and non-U.S. stock markets. The VSTOXX and VKOSPI capture the major shocks to the global economy and show movements similar to the VIX. The empirical findings indicate that volatility index changes are important in explaining stock returns. We also examined spillover effects across volatility indexes. The VIX is a main transmitter, and the VKOSPI the main receiver, of these spillovers. The results point to a leading role for the VIX in the international market.     

Scaling the volatility of GDP growth rates

The distribution of shocks to GDP growth rates is found to be exponential rather than normal. Their standard deviation scales with GDP^β where β=−0.15±0.03. These macroeconomic results place restrictions on the microeconomic structure of interactions between agents.     

股指期货推出对中国股票市场波动性的影响研究——基于沪深300股指期货高频数据的实证分析

本文利用沪深300股指期货的高频数据,研究了股指期货推出对中国股票市场波动性的影响。结果表明:在股指期货合约交割日,总体上不存在到期日效应;在中长期,股指期货推出则确实增加了现货市场的波动,但随着时间的推移,这种影响在减小。另外,股指期货对现货市场波动起到引导作用,其冲击持续的时间更长、强度更大。本文政策含义在于,随着时间的推移,股指期货开始平稳有效运行,对现货市场起到重要引导和价格发现的作用,但由于股指期货的高投机性,加强对其监管仍然十分必要。     

ARCH and GARCH models vs. martingale volatility of finance market returns

ARCH and GARCH models assume either i.i.d. or ‘white noise’ as is usual in regression analysis, while also assuming memory in a conditional mean square fluctuation with stationary increments. We will show that ARCH/GARCH is inconsistent with uncorrelated increments, violating the i.i.d. and ‘white’ assumptions, and violating finance data and the efficient market hypothesis as well.     

Smoothing Mechanisms in Defined Benefit Pension Accounting Standards: A Simulation Study*

The accounting for defined benefit (DB) pension plans is complex and varies significantly across jurisdictions despite recent international convergence efforts. Pension costs are significant, and many worry that unfavorable accounting treatment could lead companies to terminate DB plans, a result that would have important social implications. A key difference in accounting standards relates to whether and how the effects of fluctuations in market and demographic variables on reported pension cost are “smoothed". Critics argue that smoothing mechanisms lead to incomprehensible accounting information and induce managers to make dysfunctional decisions. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these mechanisms may vary. We use simulated data to test the volatility, representational faithfulness, and predictive ability of pension accounting numbers under Canadian, British, and international standards (IFRS). We find that smoothed pension expense is less volatile, more predictive of future expense, and more closely associated with contemporaneous funding than is “unsmoothed” pension expense. The corridor method and market‐related value approaches allowed under Canadian GAAP have virtually no smoothing effect incremental to the amortization of actuarial gains and losses. The pension accrual or deferred asset is highly correlated with the pension plan deficit/surplus. Our findings complement existing, primarily archival, pension accounting research and could provide guidance to standard‐setters.     

区域金融生态风险及其评价

本文从深化金融生态研究的角度出发,通过借鉴生态学关于生态风险的评价理论,提出了区域金融生态风险的概念,分析了其与传统金融风险以及金融生态评价的联系和区别,并探讨了区域金融生态风险的评价原则和基本评价方法。为降低风险评价的难度,进一步建立了区域金融生态风险评价的简化框架以及相应的指标体系;并且利用生态学前沿研究成果-能值分析理论,刻画区域金融生态整体发展质量,促进金融生态观念在金融发展实践层面的应用。     

我国金融市场间溢出效应研究——基于四元VAR-GARCH(1,1)-BEKK模型的分析

汇率改革以来,政府实施了一系列金融市场改革,促使金融市场一体化程度显著提高,增强了金融市场间联系。本文采用四元VAR(6)-GARCH(1,1)-BEKK模型分析了我国主要金融市场(股票市场、债券市场、外汇市场以及货币市场)的溢出关系。研究发现,上述市场有很强的波动集聚性和持续性,大多数金融市场间存在显著的双向均值溢出,所有市场间均存在显著的双向波动溢出,还发现市场间溢出可能主要来自于市场传染效应。据此,本文认为政府应该采取合理有效的监管框架,监控金融市场参与者的资本金状况,防止金融市场大幅波动,降低风险累积程度,并在执行货币政策时,兼顾金融市场价格变化对货币政策执行效力的影响。