Despite concerns are often voiced on the so called “excess volatility” of the stock market, little is known about the implications of market volatility for the real economy. This paper examines whether the stock market volatility affects real fixed investment. The empirical evidence obtained from the US data shows that market volatility has independent effects on investment over and above that of stock returns. Volatility and its changes are negatively related to investment growth. To the extent volatility depresses fixed capital formation and hence future income growth, the results suggest the desirability of reducing stock market volatility.
Volatility is very much with us in today's equity markets. Day-to-day price swings are often large and intra-day volatility elevated, especially at market openings and closings. What explains this? What does this say about the quality of our markets? Can short-period volatility be controlled by better market design and a more effective use of electronic technology? Featuring insights from an international array of prominent academics, financial markets experts, policymakers and journalists, the book addresses these and other questions concerning this timely topic. In so doing, we seek deeper knowledge of the dynamic process of price formation, and of the market structure and regulatory environment within which our markets function. The Zicklin School of Business Financial Markets Series presents the insights emerging from a sequence of conferences hosted by the Zicklin School at Baruch College for industry professionals, regulators, and scholars. Much more than historical documents, the transcripts from the conferences are edited for clarity, perspective and context; material and comments from subsequent interviews with the panelists and speakers are integrated for a complete thematic presentation. Each book is focused on a well delineated topic, but all deliver broader insights into the quality and efficiency of the U.S. equity markets and the dynamic forces changing them.
It is now abundantly clear that stock volatility is a contagious disease that spreads virulently from market to market around the world. Price changes in one market drive subsequent price changes in that market as well as in others. In Beast, Haugen makes a compelling case for the fact that even under normal conditions, fully 80 percent of stock volatility is price driven. Moreover, this volatility is far from benign. It acts to reduce the level of investment spending and constitutes a significant and permanent drag on economic growth. Price-driven volatility is unstable. Dramatic and unpredictable explosions in price-driven volatility can send stock markets in a downward spiral and cause significant disruptions in economic activity. Haugen argues that this indeed happened in 1929 and 1930. If volatility in Asian markets persists, it can easily become the source of the problem rather than merely a symptom.
Up-to-Date Research Sheds New Light on This Area Taking into account the ongoing worldwide financial crisis, Stock Market Volatility provides insight to better understand volatility in various stock markets. This timely volume is one of the first to draw on a range of international authorities who offer their expertise on market volatility in devel
HIGH RETURNS from LOW RISK If you lie awake at night worrying about your retirement, paying for your children’s schooling or your general financial security, High Returns from Low Risk is your solution to a sound sleep. This unique wealth management guide is written by a fund manager who oversees billions of dollars in portfolio assets, and who wants to share his approach with individual investors, advisors, bankers and everyone interested in the stock market. Despite all the appeal exciting stocks have, his evidence-based strategy repeatedly proves low-risk stocks historically beat high-risk ones going back well over eighty years. By how much? Over eighteen times the returns! Growing wealth doesn’t have to be stressful, and it shouldn’t be risky when you get High Returns from Low Risk. ‘The low-risk effect, that is the idea that historically, unlike many well-known theories, average return across stocks doesn’t appear to go up with most standard measures of risk, is one of the most important “anomalies” in modern finance. Pim van Vliet is one of the pioneers in studying this effect and using it to improve investor portfolios. Anyone interested in systematic equity investing should carefully read this important book.’ — Clifford S. Asness, Founder, Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer at AQR Capital Management, USA ‘Pim van Vliet’s experience as one of the pioneers of low-volatility investing gives him unique insight into one of the most fascinating economic anomalies of our time. The idea that risk, properly defined, generates a positive return, is one of those ideas that becomes even more profound when we learn it is not true. There is no cosmic risk karma that pays people for taking risk, and this book will help people understand what types of investment risks generate premiums, and which will actually cost you money.’ —Eric Falkenstein, Author of The Missing Risk Premium: Why Low Volatility Investing Works, USA
Discover the Upside of Down enlightens readers and give them investment strategies for both protection and profits. Chapters include information on the hot button economic topics of today and for the foreseeable future: oil, gold, real estate, stocks, the dollar, the U.S. and global economies and the future outlook from a longterm viewpoint for each. A timely book with a timely message, this book targets the investor concerned about maintaining their investments during volatile times.
“Read Jack Ablin’s ‘five factor’ approach to investing and you not only will sleep better at night, you’ll be a smarter, wiser human being. Ablin takes you on his twenty-year journey toward a unified, rational approach to investing that can help you weather even the most turbulent financial storms. This book may be one of the best investments you will ever make.” --John Callaway, Senior Correspondent, WTTW, Public Television “This book is based on verifiable data trends and years of experience with a broad array of economic and market numbers. Regret over investment losses need not lead investors to disengage their brains or to be robbed again by schemes hawked as ‘new and improved.’ Reading Minds and Markets will help jump-start an honest investment dialogue that has been sidetracked by excesses of greed and fear.” --Bill Barnhart, Former Financial Editor and Columnist for the Chicago Tribune “The author has taken the complex world of investing and provided an extremely practical approach to success where others have failed miserably. His grasp of the financial markets makes him eminently qualified to develop an extremely sound and practical approach in order to protect and enhance wealth for investors.” --Edward (“Ned”) Riley, Jr., Former Chief Investment Officer for State Street Global Advisors and Chief Investment Officer, Riley Asset Management “With nearly three decades of experience, Jack Ablin’s superb intellectual thinking is reflected in Reading Minds and Markets. This is great reading for the motivated investor.” --Professor Israel Shaked, Finance and Economics Department, Boston University, School of Management You can do more to protect yourself from market risks and down markets. The secret: Understand the big picture and know when to shift money toward more promising industry groups, sectors, or asset classes. This strategy is called “global macro investing”--and, as Chief Investment Officer for Harris Private Bank, Jack Ablin has used it to deliver results for many of the world’s wealthiest families and individuals. In Reading Minds and Markets, Ablin distills his techniques into a remarkably simple, commonsense five-step plan that any investor can use. You’ll discover how to anticipate some of the more significant shifts in global markets and move investments toward areas that are more likely to grow. Equally important, you’ll learn how to overcome bad habits that inevitably lead to failure--habits all too often reinforced by the financial media. In today’s unforgiving markets, you need to make smarter high-level decisions and fewer mistakes: This book will help you do both. Why you must take a top-down view of the market--and how to do it Avoid getting caught off-guard in choppy, highly volatile markets Respond to the market’s powerful signals about relative risk Master strategies for improving return without increasing risk Discover the five factors that consistently tell you where to invest Cut through the clutter of irrelevant data: find what matters and use it Stop being your own worst enemy Overcome the #1 obstacle to structuring your best portfolio: human nature www.readingmindsandmarkets.com
The alternative investment market (AIM) has seen rapid growth over its 19 years, and has emerged as the market of choice for smaller, newer companies, both in the UK and abroad. However, it has often had a volatile reputation among investors, who have commonly perceived stock in the AIM as more risky than the main market. In this book, a group of leading financial analysts conduct an extensive empirical study to compare the relative volatility of two UK equity markets run by the London Stock Exchange, over a ten year period. They analyse the comparative risks involved in the alternative investment market, the market of growing companies, and the 'main market', the market for more established companies. This book analyses the volatility of the alternative investment market, using a variety of techniques and approaches. It compares the volatility of stocks in the markets, exploring variables such as size, industry, age and market switches. Using refined methods to focus on the difference between the markets, the authors provide a convincing study to challenge the idea that the alternative investment market is higher risk than the main market.
