Dynamics of Bond and Stock Returns

Abstract

A production-based equilibrium model jointly prices bond and stock returns and produces time-varying correlation between stock and real treasury returns that changes in both magnitude and sign. The term premium is time-varying and changes sign. The model incorporates time-varying risk aversion and two physical technologies with different cash-flow risks. Bonds hedge risk-aversion shocks and command negative term premium through this channel. Cash-flow shocks produce co-movement of bond and stock returns and positive term premium. Relative strength of these two mechanisms varies over time. The correlation is a powerful predictor of relative bond-stock and long-short equity returns in the data.

Keywords: bond-stock correlation, risk premia, general equilibrium

JEL Classification: G11, G12, E21, E23