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The information content of the term structure of risk-neutral skewness

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  • Borochin, Paul
  • Chang, Hao
  • Wu, Yangru

Abstract

We seek to reconcile the debate about the price effect of risk-neutral skewness (RNS) on stocks. We document positive predictability from short-term skewness, consistent with informed-trading demand, and negative predictability from long-term skewness, consistent with skewness preference. A term spread on RNS captures different information from long- and short-term contracts, resulting in stronger predictability. The quintile portfolio with the lowest spread outperforms that with highest spread by 14.64% annually. The term structure of RNS predicts earnings surprises and price crashes. We extract the slope factor from RNS term structure, estimate its risk premium, and explore its relation with several macroeconomic variables.

Suggested Citation

  • Borochin, Paul & Chang, Hao & Wu, Yangru, 2020. "The information content of the term structure of risk-neutral skewness," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 247-274.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:empfin:v:58:y:2020:i:c:p:247-274
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jempfin.2020.06.003
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    2. Bressan, Silvia & Weissensteiner, Alex, 2021. "The financial conglomerate discount: Insights from stock return skewness," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Bali, Turan G. & Beckmeyer, Heiner & Moerke, Mathis & Weigert, Florian, 2021. "Option return predictability with machine learning and big data," CFR Working Papers 21-08, University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR).
    4. Ana‐Maria Fuertes & Zhenya Liu & Weiqing Tang, 2022. "Risk‐neutral skewness and commodity futures pricing," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(4), pages 751-785, April.
    5. Silvia Bressan & Alex Weissensteiner, 2023. "Option-Implied Skewness and the Value of Financial Intermediaries," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 64(2), pages 207-229, October.
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    7. Zhang, Zhikai & He, Mengxi & Zhang, Yaojie & Wang, Yudong, 2021. "Realized skewness and the short-term predictability for aggregate stock market volatility," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    8. Lykourgos Alexiou & Leonidas S. Rompolis, 2022. "Option‐implied moments and the cross‐section of stock returns," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(4), pages 668-691, April.

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