The Fed Model: International Analysis

The Fed model is a widely used market valuation model. It is often used only on market analysis of the S&P 500 index as a shorthand measure for the attractiveness of equity, and as a timing device for allocating funds between equity and bonds. The Fed model assumes a fixed relationship between bond yield and earnings yield. This relationship is often assumed to be true in market valuation. In this paper we test the Fed model from historical perspective on the European markets. The markets of the United States are also includedfor comparison. The purpose of the tests is to determine if the Fed model and the underlying assumptions come true on different markets. The various tests are made on time-series data ranging from the year 1973 to the end of the year 2008. The statistical methods used are regressions analysis, cointegration analysis and Granger causality. The empirical results do not give strong support for the Fed model. The underlying relationships assumed by the Fed model are statistically not valid in most of the markets examined and therefore the model is not valid in valuation purposes generally. The results vary between the different markets which gives reason to suspect the general use of the Fed model in different market conditions and in different markets.

Chasing performance persistence of hedge funds

The thesis examines the performance persistence of hedge funds using complement methodologies (namely cross-sectional regressions, quantile portfolio analysis and Spearman rank correlation test). In addition, six performance ranking metrics and six different combinations of selection and holding periods are compared. The data is gathered from HFI and Tremont databases covering over 14,000 hedge funds and time horizon is set from January 1996 to December 2007. The results suggest that there definitely exists performance persistence among hedge funds and the strength and existence of persistence vary among fund styles. The persistence depends on the metrics and combination of selection and prediction period applied. According to the results, the combination of 36-month selection and holding period outperforms other five period combinations in capturing performance persistence within the sample. Furthermore, model-free performance metrics capture persistence more sensitively than model-specific metrics. The study is the first one ever to use MVR as a performance ranking metric, and surprisingly MVR is more sensitive to detect persistence than other performance metrics employed.

Varallisuudenhoito indeksiosuusrahastoilla

Tämä Pro gradu–työ on käytännönläheinen sijoittajalähtöinen tutkimus varallisuudenhoidosta indeksiosuusrahastoilla. Tavoitteena on selvittää indeksiosuusrahastojen olemusta, niiden hyötyjä sekä mahdollisia haittapuolia. Toisena tavoitteena on rakentaa indeksiosuusrahastoista aikaisemman tutkimuksen pohjalta mallisalkku. Kolmantena tavoitteena on luoda Excelin portfolio-optimoinnilla salkku, jossa tutkitaan indeksiosuusrahastojen suoriutumista markkinoilla. Tämä optimointimetodi on rakennettu Mika Vaihekosken (2002) mukaan. Tutkimusmenetelmänä on empiirinen tutkimus. Tarkastelen aihetta pääosin liiketaloustieteellisestä näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksessa käytetään myös paljon rahoitusmarkkinalähtöistä näkökulmaa. Tutkimusaineisto koostuu kolmestakymmenestäneljästä Yhdysvaltain markkinoiden osake-, joukkovelkakirja- sekä raaka-aineindeksiosuusrahastosta. Aineisto on vuosilta 2006 – 2011 sisältäen 34x69 havaintoa. Portfolio-optimoinnissa käytetään neljää hyperbola-kerrointa. Empiiristen tutkimustulosten mukaan indeksiosuusrahastojen menneisyyden hyvät tuotot ennustaisivat hyvin tulevaisuuden hyviä tuottoja ainakin tämän tutkimuksen aikavälillä tammikuusta 2006 syyskuuhun 2011. Valinta-aikavälin 2006 – 2008 aineistosta muodostettu tangenttiportfolio menestyi suhteellisen hyvin hallussapitoaikavälillä 2009 – 2011. Tangenttiportfolio osoittautui ainakin tässä tutkielmassa käyttökelpoiseksi työkaluksi indeksiosuusrahastojen varallisuudenhallinnassa.

Observations of Industry Momentum Effect in European Equity Indices

This thesis examines the existence and nature of momentum effect in European equity indices. A set of predefined indicators is used to compose momentum portfolios and different holding periods are used to test the strategies over variable time periods as well as under different economical conditions. The data consists of daily closing prices of STOXX Europe 600 index and its 18 super sector indices. Over the study period we follow the performances of a long position in the Winner portfolio, a position in the market neutral zero-cost portfolio and also a position in the risk-controlled zero-cost portfolio. The investment ratio of the risk-controlled zero-cost portfolio is negatively correlated with the realized market volatility. The results show that momentum effect is present in European industries and is most prominent in the short-term. Indicators that are based on short-term performance tend predict the over- and underperformers for the 1-month holding period more reliably than any other indicator/holding period combination. The examination of the strategies under different economical conditions shows that the market neutral approach can create significant returns in times of recession but in times of economic boom the long position in Winner portfolio outperforms the market neutral portfolio by an extensive margin.

Sovereign Credit Rating Announcements and Equity Market Response: Evidence from the European Markets

This thesis examines the equity market reactions on credit rating announcements. The study covers 12 European countries during the period of 2000-2012. By using an event study methodology and daily collected stock market returns, the impact of the sovereign credit rating announcements to national stock indices is examined. The thesis finds evidence for the rating downgrades having a statistically significant negative effect on the stock markets. This finding is in line with earlier literature (see Brooks, 2004). The paper also discusses whether the changes in the sovereign credit ratings are contagious, anticipated by the market, and persistent. There is some evidence found for the contagion effects in case of downgrades, but not for upgrades. Markets seem to anticipate rating upgrades, but not downgrades. In addition, market´s reaction towards rating announcements seems not to be persistent.

The Use of Data Envelopment Analysis as Equity Portfolio Selection Criterion in the Finnish Stock Market

This thesis examines the application of data envelopment analysis as an equity portfolio selection criterion in the Finnish stock market during period 2001-2011. A sample of publicly traded firms in the Helsinki Stock Exchange is examined in this thesis. The sample covers the majority of the publicly traded firms in the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Data envelopment analysis is used to determine the efficiency of firms using a set of input and output financial parameters. The set of financial parameters consist of asset utilization, liquidity, capital structure, growth, valuation and profitability measures. The firms are divided into artificial industry categories, because of the industry-specific nature of the input and output parameters. Comparable portfolios are formed inside the industry category according to the efficiency scores given by the DEA and the performance of the portfolios is evaluated with several measures. The empirical evidence of this thesis suggests that with certain limitations, data envelopment analysis can successfully be used as portfolio selection criterion in the Finnish stock market when the portfolios are rebalanced at annual frequency according to the efficiency scores given by the data envelopment analysis. However, when the portfolios were rebalanced every two or three years, the results are mixed and inconclusive.