Th. Park et Ln. Switzer, FORECASTING INTEREST-RATES AND YIELD SPREADS - THE INFORMATIONAL CONTENT OF IMPLIED FUTURES YIELDS AND BEST-FITTING FORWARD RATE MODELS, Journal of forecasting, 16(4), 1997, pp. 209-224
Forecasts of interest rates for different maturities are essential for
forecasts of asset prices. The growth of derivatives markets coupled
with the development of complex theories of the term structure of inte
rest rates have provided forecasters with a rich array of variables fo
r predicting interest rates and yield spreads. This paper extends prev
ious work on forecasting future interest rates and yield spreads using
market data for T-bills, T-Notes, and Treasury Bond spot and futures
contracts. The information conveyed in technical models that use marke
t data is also assessed, using a recent innovation in interest rate mo
delling, the maximum smoothness approach. Forecasts from this model ar
e compared with predicted yields and yield spreads derived from future
s prices as well as with those of the random walk model. The results s
how some evidence of market segmentation, with more arbitrage evident
for nearby maturities. Market participants appear to show a greater de
gree of consensus on short-term interest rates than on longer-term int
erest rates. There is some indication that forecasts from the futures
markets are marginally better than those provided by those of the maxi
mum-smoothness approach, consistent with the informational advantages
of futures markets. Finally, futures and maximum-smoothness market for
ecasts are shown to outperform those of the random walk model. (C) 199
7 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.