Banks' Stockholdings and the Correlation between Bonds and Stocks : A Portfolio Theoretic Approach
Yoshiyuki Fukuda* yoshiyuki.fukuda@boj.or.jp Kazutoshi Kan** kazutoshi.kan@boj.or.jp Yoshihiko Sugihara***
No.13-E-6 March 2013
Bank of Japan 2-1-1 Nihonbashi-Hongokucho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0021, Japan
* ** ***
International Department (ex-Financial System and Bank Examination Department) Financial System and Bank Examination Department Personnel and Corporate Affairs Department (ex-Financial System and Bank Examination Department)
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A PORTFOLIO THEORETIC APPROACH
Yoshiyuki Fukuda†, Kazutoshi Kan‡ and Yoshihiko Sugihara§
ABSTRACT
In this paper, we analyze the optimal asset composition ratio of stocks and bonds for a bank taking into consideration the correlation between the interest rate risk and equity risk in the financial capital market using a portfolio model. The analysis reveals that in determining the asset composition ratio in Japan, the correlation coefficient between the interest rate and stock prices as well as the stock price volatility plays a more important role than the interest rate volatility. We also show that in the present circumstances, the stockholding ratios of most financial institutions in Japan are higher than the