Macroeconomic Factors and The Asymmetric Predictability of Conditional Variances
Bill B. Francis
University of South Florida - College of Business Administration
Iftekhar Hasan
Fordham University; Bank of Finland
European Financial Management, Vol 4, No 2 July 1998
Abstract:
This paper investigates the predictability of the volatilities of large versus small firms. Using AR-GARCH models we show that there is symmetry in the ability of firms of different market values to predict conditional variances. Specifically, we show that volatility surprises of small (large) firms are important in predicting the conditional variance of large (small) firms. These results are different than those previously reported which indicate that there is an asymmetry in the predictability of the volatilities of large versus small firms. This predictive ability is still present when the equation of conditional variance includes state variables such as the default premium, dividend yield and the term premium. Finally, our results indicate that the pattern of symmetric predictability is present in both pre- and post-war sample periods.
JEL Classification: G12, G14
Accepted Paper Series
Suggested Citation
Francis, Bill B. and Hasan, Iftekhar, Macroeconomic Factors and The Asymmetric Predictability of Conditional Variances. European Financial Management, Vol 4, No 2 July 1998. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=86130
