On the distributional characterization of daily log-returns of a world stock index

In this paper distributions are identified which suitably fit log-returns of the world stock index when these are expressed in units of different currencies. By searching for a best fit in the class of symmetric generalized hyperbolic distributions the maximum likelihood estimates appear to cluster...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fergusson, Kevin, Platen, E.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Chapman & Hall 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18690
Description
Summary:In this paper distributions are identified which suitably fit log-returns of the world stock index when these are expressed in units of different currencies. By searching for a best fit in the class of symmetric generalized hyperbolic distributions the maximum likelihood estimates appear to cluster in the neighbourhood of those of the Student t distribution. This is confirmed at a high significance level under the likelihood ratio test. Finally, the paper derives the minimal market model, which explains the empirical findings as a consequence of the optimal market dynamics