Hedge Funds in Superannuation Portfolios: Are the Returns Worth the Risks? In recent years superannuation funds have delivered negative returns to members due to poorly performing stockmarkets. In striving to achieve higher rates of return, superannuation trustees have commenced allocating retirement savings to a new type of investment opportunity, termed hedge funds. There is a paucity of research about this new type of investment, particularly relating to the non-linear nature of hedge funds ....Hedge Funds in Superannuation Portfolios: Are the Returns Worth the Risks? In recent years superannuation funds have delivered negative returns to members due to poorly performing stockmarkets. In striving to achieve higher rates of return, superannuation trustees have commenced allocating retirement savings to a new type of investment opportunity, termed hedge funds. There is a paucity of research about this new type of investment, particularly relating to the non-linear nature of hedge funds returns. This study will investigate the risk and return trade-off of including hedge funds in superannuation portfolios and provide trustees with empirical tools to determine the optimal allocation to hedge funds.Read moreRead less
Modelling stock market liquidity in Australia and the Asia Pacific Region. This project will develop new methods of assessing stock market liquidity in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. These methods will use high frequency transactions-based data provided by the industry partner, SIRCA. The data will be the basis of smart information real time algorithms for measuring market liquidity. They will incorporate generalizations and extensions of recent developments in time series econometrics, ....Modelling stock market liquidity in Australia and the Asia Pacific Region. This project will develop new methods of assessing stock market liquidity in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. These methods will use high frequency transactions-based data provided by the industry partner, SIRCA. The data will be the basis of smart information real time algorithms for measuring market liquidity. They will incorporate generalizations and extensions of recent developments in time series econometrics, and will be calibrated and evaluated statistically. The novel methods will be crucial to market participants and to regulators, who will be able to apply them to assess market depth and liquidity, and reduce trading costs substantially.Read moreRead less
Understanding market mechanisms and determinants of transaction costs to achieve greater efficiency in Australian fixed-income markets. This project will provide information to policymakers and regulators, enabling the evolution of optimal fixed-income markets, with significant benefits for individuals and the national economy. These benefits will be both short-term (current wealth) and long-term (retirement saving). It will promote Australia as the leader in constructing optimal fixed-income ma ....Understanding market mechanisms and determinants of transaction costs to achieve greater efficiency in Australian fixed-income markets. This project will provide information to policymakers and regulators, enabling the evolution of optimal fixed-income markets, with significant benefits for individuals and the national economy. These benefits will be both short-term (current wealth) and long-term (retirement saving). It will promote Australia as the leader in constructing optimal fixed-income markets, which can be applied to similar markets around the world. Finally, training research students will develop research infrastructure in Australia, and contribute to produce a generation of specialists who will increase Australia's international standing in financial research and its ability to manage an increasingly complex economy.Read moreRead less
Experiments in the Dynamics of Preference and Choice in an Evolving Social Network. This project offers revolutionary insight into the process by which social leaders emerge and leadership evolves over time. The project improves the understanding of how decisions are made individually and at group levels with important implications for commerce, marketing, and policy. Project results foster managing network development and evolution, allowing firms and government agencies to understand how they ....Experiments in the Dynamics of Preference and Choice in an Evolving Social Network. This project offers revolutionary insight into the process by which social leaders emerge and leadership evolves over time. The project improves the understanding of how decisions are made individually and at group levels with important implications for commerce, marketing, and policy. Project results foster managing network development and evolution, allowing firms and government agencies to understand how they can use networks to disseminate information to consumers and individual citizens. The results will also inform the development of regulations targeting reductions in herding where such behaviour can cause harmful market disruptions.Read moreRead less
Managing Risk with Insurance and Superannuation as Individuals Age. Financial stability lies at the heart of any market economy. The financial risks associated with uncertainty about longevity change comprise one of the most pressing challenges facing financial systems, nationally and globally. While insurance companies and superannuation funds hold significant reserves against future risks, the ageing of the population increases the number of people potentially exposed to loss in the event that ....Managing Risk with Insurance and Superannuation as Individuals Age. Financial stability lies at the heart of any market economy. The financial risks associated with uncertainty about longevity change comprise one of the most pressing challenges facing financial systems, nationally and globally. While insurance companies and superannuation funds hold significant reserves against future risks, the ageing of the population increases the number of people potentially exposed to loss in the event that insurers and pension funds cannot deliver on their obligations. With an increasing range of financial service products and markets developing to meet the needs of the aged, research into the issues of longevity risk and the financial impact of uncertainty in mortality and morbidity trends is vital.Read moreRead less
Forecasting Risk Thresholds for Portfolio Management and Regulation. The project will develop new models and methods for dynamic risk modelling, assessment of portfolio risk, and forecasting of portfolio risk thresholds. These novel methods will have extensive applications across investment portfolios for banks and financial institutions globally. The techniques will feature a dynamic updating of risk estimates, and more accurate forecasting of portfolio risk, the correlations of portfolio asset ....Forecasting Risk Thresholds for Portfolio Management and Regulation. The project will develop new models and methods for dynamic risk modelling, assessment of portfolio risk, and forecasting of portfolio risk thresholds. These novel methods will have extensive applications across investment portfolios for banks and financial institutions globally. The techniques will feature a dynamic updating of risk estimates, and more accurate forecasting of portfolio risk, the correlations of portfolio asset classes, and Value at Risk (VaR) thresholds. The innovative methods and models will permit both financial institutions and regulatory authorities to model VaR thresholds more accurately, and enable investment managers to regulate and benchmark their portfolios more effectively against international best practice.
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New Directions in Information Economics and Environmental Policy. Recent developments in economic theory, experimental economics, information systems and biophysical modelling have made possible a new generation of policy instruments that can be applied in environmental economics. A recent pilot study of biodiversity preservation auctions in Victoria has demonstrated the practicality in principle of these techniques. We will build on this pilot study to develop practical policy instruments based ....New Directions in Information Economics and Environmental Policy. Recent developments in economic theory, experimental economics, information systems and biophysical modelling have made possible a new generation of policy instruments that can be applied in environmental economics. A recent pilot study of biodiversity preservation auctions in Victoria has demonstrated the practicality in principle of these techniques. We will build on this pilot study to develop practical policy instruments based on these principles.Read moreRead less
Information Content of Order Flows in the Foreign Exchange and Commodities Markets. The Australian economy depends heavily on resources and commodities markets. The Australian dollar is the sixth most actively traded currency in the world and is more volatile than all other major currencies except the Japanese yen. The proposed study seeks to improve volatility forecasts and hedging effectiveness for foreign exchange and commodity risks, which will create significant benefits for the Australian ....Information Content of Order Flows in the Foreign Exchange and Commodities Markets. The Australian economy depends heavily on resources and commodities markets. The Australian dollar is the sixth most actively traded currency in the world and is more volatile than all other major currencies except the Japanese yen. The proposed study seeks to improve volatility forecasts and hedging effectiveness for foreign exchange and commodity risks, which will create significant benefits for the Australian economy, corporations, and investors. In addition, the project will enhance investment performance and risk management practice of financial institutions, improving the overall safety of our financial system. It will also foster research culture and increase research capacity of Australian financial institutions.Read moreRead less
Understanding market mechanisms to achieve greater efficiency in the Australian residential real-estate market. This project will provide information to policy-makers, vendors and purchasers, enabling the evolution of an optimal real-estate market, with significant benefits for individuals and the national economy. These benefits will be both short-term (current wealth) and long-term (retirement saving). It will promote Australia as the leader in constructing optimal, efficient real-estate marke ....Understanding market mechanisms to achieve greater efficiency in the Australian residential real-estate market. This project will provide information to policy-makers, vendors and purchasers, enabling the evolution of an optimal real-estate market, with significant benefits for individuals and the national economy. These benefits will be both short-term (current wealth) and long-term (retirement saving). It will promote Australia as the leader in constructing optimal, efficient real-estate markets, which can be applied to similar real-estate markets around the world. Finally, training a research student will develop research infrastructure in Australia, and be a contribution to producing a generation of specialists who will add to Australia's international standing in financial research and its ability to manage an increasingly complex economy.Read moreRead less
The Determinants and Impacts of Analyst Activity in Australian Equity Markets. Deep and liquid markets are essential ingredients to a well functioning capital market, and can assist in capital formation and the growth of firms. A rich information environment is in turn necessary to ensure liquidity and the minimisation of cost of capital. A greater understanding of what promotes a rich information environment, specifically through the activity of financial analysts, will assist in formulation ....The Determinants and Impacts of Analyst Activity in Australian Equity Markets. Deep and liquid markets are essential ingredients to a well functioning capital market, and can assist in capital formation and the growth of firms. A rich information environment is in turn necessary to ensure liquidity and the minimisation of cost of capital. A greater understanding of what promotes a rich information environment, specifically through the activity of financial analysts, will assist in formulation of policies at both the Australian Stock Exchange and individual company level, and indeed at the government level given Federal and State Government initiatives to encourage the growth of corporate Australia.Read moreRead less