Asset pricing with social interactions, adaptive learning, and differences in opinion. This project seeks to understand how social interactions and adaptive learning of investors affect asset prices in highly competitive and adaptive financial markets. It will develop an evolutionary asset pricing theory, novel empirical hypotheses and tests of financial market characteristics and provide implications for policy and market regulation.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354895
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$40,000.00
Summary
Financial Integrity Research Network (FIRN). FIRN will be directed towards innovation in the integrity and efficiency of Australia's financial system. To address pressing problems and threats associated with this key component of Australia's infrastructure, FIRN will bring together a multi-disciplinary network featuring internationally renowned academics in a unique collaborative research effort which will cross conventional disciplinary boundaries including financial economics, applied statist ....Financial Integrity Research Network (FIRN). FIRN will be directed towards innovation in the integrity and efficiency of Australia's financial system. To address pressing problems and threats associated with this key component of Australia's infrastructure, FIRN will bring together a multi-disciplinary network featuring internationally renowned academics in a unique collaborative research effort which will cross conventional disciplinary boundaries including financial economics, applied statistics, actuarial science, financial mathematics, market micro-structure, accounting and information systems. FIRN will be supported by SIRCA's world-class financial research infrastructure and industry network. It will deliver a range of innovative research, educational, professional development and applied outcomes.Read moreRead less
Dynamic Asset Pricing and Portfolio Decision Rules under Heterogeneous Expectations and Adaptive Learning. The outcomes of this project will provide two benefits to Australian financial market researchers in academe, in industry and financial market regulators. First, a better theoretical and empirical foundation for understanding and analysing optimal portfolio decision rules in a setting that captures many realistic features of market behaviour such as heterogeneity of investor types and adapt ....Dynamic Asset Pricing and Portfolio Decision Rules under Heterogeneous Expectations and Adaptive Learning. The outcomes of this project will provide two benefits to Australian financial market researchers in academe, in industry and financial market regulators. First, a better theoretical and empirical foundation for understanding and analysing optimal portfolio decision rules in a setting that captures many realistic features of market behaviour such as heterogeneity of investor types and adaptive behaviour by market participants. Second, new tools to more effectively understand and manage portfolio risk in financial markets. Consequently Australia will have a more efficient and competitive financial system. It also has the potential to lead to the development of more finance related industries such as financial market software.Read moreRead less
Developing a robust model for pricing inter-related volatility-based financial derivative contracts. Volatility-based financial contracts were developed in the late 1990s to provide an easy way for investors to gain exposure to the future level of volatility and thus provide a means by which they could speculate on its future levels and also hedge unpredictable volatility risk. This would potentially save them from losing vast quantities of money. However these products can only be efficient pr ....Developing a robust model for pricing inter-related volatility-based financial derivative contracts. Volatility-based financial contracts were developed in the late 1990s to provide an easy way for investors to gain exposure to the future level of volatility and thus provide a means by which they could speculate on its future levels and also hedge unpredictable volatility risk. This would potentially save them from losing vast quantities of money. However these products can only be efficient products for trading and risk management if they are priced correctly. This project will benefit investors by providing empirically viable models that will be able to be easily implemented to provide accurate and fast pricing solutions.Read moreRead less
An Examination of the Structure, Performance, Trading Activity and Portfolio Compositions of Small-Cap Equity Managers. Australian investment managers currently manage $A904 billion in assets. Given that Australians compulsorily commit 9% of their salaries this figure is set to rise rapidly. Developing a better understanding of the performance and trading activities of these managers offers significant benefit to all Australians. The growth in assets under management has forced managers to in ....An Examination of the Structure, Performance, Trading Activity and Portfolio Compositions of Small-Cap Equity Managers. Australian investment managers currently manage $A904 billion in assets. Given that Australians compulsorily commit 9% of their salaries this figure is set to rise rapidly. Developing a better understanding of the performance and trading activities of these managers offers significant benefit to all Australians. The growth in assets under management has forced managers to invest in alternative assets such as small cap stocks. Small companies have been described as the engine room of economic growth, promoting employment, national prosperity, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Our research considers a significant and growing part of Australia's national economy.Read moreRead less
An Examination of Strategic Investment Arrangements for Institutional Investors: The Case for Centralised Portfolio Management. The aim of this project is to examine the extent to which Australian superannuation funds are able to enhance their overall returns, achieve investment objectives, and minimise operating costs incurred. This will be achieved by examining the benefits of centralised portfolio management for superannuation funds, and consideration of how active and index management can be ....An Examination of Strategic Investment Arrangements for Institutional Investors: The Case for Centralised Portfolio Management. The aim of this project is to examine the extent to which Australian superannuation funds are able to enhance their overall returns, achieve investment objectives, and minimise operating costs incurred. This will be achieved by examining the benefits of centralised portfolio management for superannuation funds, and consideration of how active and index management can be utilised within the overall fund structure. We will show the problems associated with the current portfolio configuration system adopted by super funds, and to identify areas where more optimal investment arrangements can significantly improve overall portfolio returns and reduce expenses.Read moreRead less
Evaluating the Performance of Active Australian Equity Managers Utilising their Daily Portfolio Holdings and Trades. The aim is to evaluate the performance of active institutional Australian equity fund managers by statistical and mathematical modelling of their trades. Using a unique dataset of daily portfolio holdings and trades, we compare the trading styles of those who have persistently outperformed the market with those that have not so as to reveal drivers of superior performance. Such a ....Evaluating the Performance of Active Australian Equity Managers Utilising their Daily Portfolio Holdings and Trades. The aim is to evaluate the performance of active institutional Australian equity fund managers by statistical and mathematical modelling of their trades. Using a unique dataset of daily portfolio holdings and trades, we compare the trading styles of those who have persistently outperformed the market with those that have not so as to reveal drivers of superior performance. Such a study has been impossible until now due to non-disclosure of trades. Understanding the fundamental origins of fund performance enhances the overall returns to investors, provides a new ratings system yielding superior information, and redirects the nest-eggs of "mums and dads" towards better-performing managers.Read moreRead less
A Synthesis of Agency and Managerial Power Theories and Its Applications to Corporate Governance, Management Compensation, and Firm Performance. The existing models of corporate governance in economics and finance based on agency theory do not successfully portray all modern corporations. Thus the importance of a new and rigorous way to study corporate governance can be hardly exaggerated. This project will provide a synthesized theory of corporate governance and is expected to produce highest- ....A Synthesis of Agency and Managerial Power Theories and Its Applications to Corporate Governance, Management Compensation, and Firm Performance. The existing models of corporate governance in economics and finance based on agency theory do not successfully portray all modern corporations. Thus the importance of a new and rigorous way to study corporate governance can be hardly exaggerated. This project will provide a synthesized theory of corporate governance and is expected to produce highest-quality research publishable in top-tier journals. This will, among others, enhance Australia's standing as a knowledge nation. This project is also expected to contribute to the discussions on how to improve corporate governance and regulation of management compensation both in Australia and abroad. Read moreRead less
What Is the Optimal Level of Transparency and Should Off-Market Block Trading exist in Futures Markets? The aims of this project are twofold; to assess (i) what level of transparency is optimal and (ii) whether off-market block trading should be allowed in futures markets. Transparency refers to how much of the trading process is made visible to participants. The issue has been researched only very recently and findings have been limited. Off-market block trading procedures allow large trades ....What Is the Optimal Level of Transparency and Should Off-Market Block Trading exist in Futures Markets? The aims of this project are twofold; to assess (i) what level of transparency is optimal and (ii) whether off-market block trading should be allowed in futures markets. Transparency refers to how much of the trading process is made visible to participants. The issue has been researched only very recently and findings have been limited. Off-market block trading procedures allow large trades to be executed away from the market. This project will undertake the first study of large trades on futures markets and will also compare the impact of large trades on market quality when executed on- and off-market.Read moreRead less
Risk Measurement for Large Portfolios under the Benchmark Approach. The measurement of risk for large portfolios, consisting of basic assets and derivatives, will play a key role in future risk management systems. Based on a new characterization of asymptotic portfolios this project proposes the development, implementation and testing of highly efficient new risk measurement methodologies suitable for portfolios with hundreds or thousands of instruments. Comparisons with standard and new simulat ....Risk Measurement for Large Portfolios under the Benchmark Approach. The measurement of risk for large portfolios, consisting of basic assets and derivatives, will play a key role in future risk management systems. Based on a new characterization of asymptotic portfolios this project proposes the development, implementation and testing of highly efficient new risk measurement methodologies suitable for portfolios with hundreds or thousands of instruments. Comparisons with standard and new simulation methods will demonstrate their superiority. The outcomes of this project will give the Australian industry and the industry partner a competitive advantage in the measurement and management of risk for large portfolios as superannuation funds or portfolios of banks.Read moreRead less