We develop a nonparametric specification test for continuous-time models using the transition density. Using a data transform and correcting for boundary bias of kernel estimators, our test is robust to serial dependence in data and provides excellent finite sample performance. Besides univariate diffusion models, our test is applicable to a wide variety of continuous-time and discretetime dynamic models, including time-inhomogeneous diffusion, GARCH, stochastic volatility, regimeswitching,jump-diffusion, and multivariate diffusion models. A class of separate inference procedures is also proposed to help gauge possible sources of model misspecification. We strongly reject a variety of univariate diffusion models for daily Eurodollar spot rates and some popular multivariate affine term structure models for monthly U.S. Treasury yields.

Price and quantity are the two fundamental variables in the analysis of market interactions. Yet the study of financial markets has focused primarily on the behavior of asset prices and their relation to economic fundamentals. Much less attention has been devoted to the understanding of quantities such as trading volume. Only recently, there has been a growing body of work to link price {\it and} volume to economic fundamentals. In this paper, I review some of these work within a unified framework. I start by describing an intertemporal asset pricing model that explicitly models investors' trading motives, their optimal portfolio choices and the resulting equilibrium asset prices. I then examine the price-volume implications within the framework of the model. Finally, I discuss the results from the empirical analysis of volume and stock returns based on the data of the U.S. stock market. The theoretical analysis together with its empirical support clearly demonstrate that volume and prices are jointly linked to the economic fundamentals, e.g., the risks of the assets and the investors' attitude toward them. Moreover, the behavior of volume is closely related to the behavior of prices and from which we can learn a great deal about the prices as well as the economic fundamentals.

Based on prospect theory and individual investors’ biases such as representativeness heuristic and conservatism, we establish a behavioral model to explain the contrarian effect in China’s financial market. We find that contrarian effect is mainly attributed to trend chasing instead of disposition effect. Our model also suggests that small-cap stocks show stronger contrarian effect, phenomena confirmed by empirical research.

本文采用连续时间的多重复合期权Geske及其扩展模型来解决多阶段投资决策问题，在基本Geske公式基础上，给出了具有时变参数的连续时间N重复合期权的扩展Geske公式，并对采用Geske公式和离散期权模型得出的数值结果进行了比较。实例结果分析比较表明，利用已发表的算法和目前的普通PC计算机和数学工具软件，如DATAPLOT、MATHEMATICA等，对连续时间的N重复合期权模型(N ≤ 10)的数值解求解不再具有困难，并且可以得到较其他方法更高精度的计算结果。 Abstract: This paper make uses of N-fold continuous compound option formula to resolve multi-stages investment decision problem, and give an expansion of basic Geske formula to N-fold continuous time option with variable parameters, and then make a comparison of the results of adoption expanded Geske formula with other discrete option formulas such as binomial and trinomial formula. The results show, by means of the popular home PC with mathematic software, such as DATAPLOT, MATHEMATICA etc., the solution procedure if n ≤ 10 is quite easy with a no difficult, and can get the results with higher accuracy than other solution method.

The current paper is concerned with exploring information contained in a series of undisclosed orders that are submitted by the same broker, using this information to estimate the volume contained in the current undisclosed order, and further investigating the trading patterns followed by stockbrokers in the use of undisclosed orders. In an ARMA framework, the estimation results suggest that the information revealed in past-executed undisclosed orders of a stockbroker is explanatory to the volume of the current undisclosed order submitted by the same broker. As a supplement to the current literature relating to the package-trading patterns detected in large disclosed orders, the current study finds that stockbrokers follow the same pattern in the use of undisclosed orders. A practical application of this method is to use it for the prediction of the volume enclosed in a given undisclosed order.

In August 2000 the Singapore Stock Exchange introduced a pre-trading routine that allowed brokers to place orders into the Exchange’s computerized order matching system for a period of 30 minutes prior to market opening. A post-market trading routine was also introduced allowing for a final order matching and trade execution to occur five minutes after market close. This study investigates the impact of these changes on volatility and the price discovery process. The pre-trading session significantly reduced opening stock market volatility while the post-trading session increased volatility prior to close. A GARCH (1,1) model remains the most appropriate model for capturing the characteristics of the intra-day stock price movements in both before and after periods.

This paper examines the optimal path of dividend policy adjustments for a growth company facing the likely threat of takeover. Departing from the common framework of inefficient managers resisting takeover attempts, the formal analysis here focuses on defensive payout strategy of value-maximizing management under the circumstances of random stock market valuation errors, and the bidders’ perceived synergistic gains. A dynamic model, incorporating acquisition activity stochastically, is formulated for a growth firm drawing funds from both internal and external sources. An optimal “bang-bang” reinvestment strategy is derived with control theory, and it is found to be consistent with the firm’s objective of stock-value-maximization. It is also shown theoretically that an immediate threat of takeover shortens managerial planning horizon. The model provides an explanation of dividend adjustment behavior observed in growth firms, and offers an insight into the impact of anti-takeover costs on the firm’s value over time.

This paper deals with the option-pricing problem. In the first part of the paper we study in more details the discrete setting of the option-pricing problem usually referred to as the binomial scheme. We highlight basic differences between the old and the new approaches. The main qualitative distinction of the new pricing approach from either binomial or Black Scholes’s is that it represents the option price as a stochastic process. This stochastic interpretation can not give straightforward advantage for an investor due to stochastic setting of the pricing problem. The new approach explicitly states that the options price is more risky than represented by binomial scheme or Black Scholes theory. Continuous setting will be considered in the second part of the paper following [1]. One significant conclusion follows from the new model. It states that there is no sense in using either neutral probabilities or ‘neutral world’ applications for options valuation either theoretically or numerically. Recall that after the Black Scholes’ publication [2] the ‘simplified’ approach named later binomial scheme was introduced in [3]. In this paper referring to the historical tradition we first represent discrete scheme. In several examples we discuss two-period plain vanilla option valuation. Then we extend the discrete scheme applications to an exotic option-pricing referred to as a compound option. The compound option in Black Scholes setting was first studied in [4] and then in [5,6]. To highlight the difference between stochastic and deterministic option price definitions note that if a deterministic value is interpreted as a perfect or fair price we can comment that the stochastic interpretation provides this number or any other with the probability that real world option value at maturity will be bellow chosen number. This probability is a pricing risk of the option. Thus with an investor’s motivation of the option pricing the stochastic approach gives information about the risk taking. The investor analyzing option price and corresponding risk makes a decision to purchase the option or not. As far as this paper presents alternative point on option pricing it might be useful to present a short history of this development. Recall that according the US law institutions must provide clients by the risk information regarding client’s prospective on their investments. This circumstance implies importance new approach measuring risk of investments. Different parts of this paper were submitted and sent to journals, conferences, and prominent professors. The third part of the paper was sent to Federal Reserve from the Congressman office and simple examples showing drawbacks of the benchmark option valuation method were submitted to SEC in August 2002.

This paper studies the pricing of IPOs in the Indian context. The paper also examines whether the introduction of Bookbuilding has an impact on IPO pricing. The results suggest that IPO are underpriced. The results also suggest that bookbuilt IPOs show lower amount of underpricing than fixed price issues,. A more detailed study suggests that it has to do more with the size of the issue than the issue process. The paper also suggests a model, which demonstrates that IPO underpricing is unavoidable in a market with information asymmetry. The model predicts that the underpricing is more severe in case of smaller size issues. This is consistent with the empirical findings.

This paper reviews the two most important papers of contemporary banking theories: Contemporary Banking Theory (Bhattacharya et al 1993) and Theories of the Banking Firm: A Review of the Literature (Swank 1996), which focus on dealing with the question of why banks exist, and how the banks behavior. These two papers have valuable practical implications for the management of the retail banks, especially the theories of the risk management, the portfolio models, liquidity and maturity transformations, etc. This essay discussed the implications of the theories of retail banking and the developments of the retail banking.