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Journal of Financial Economics Vol. 25 No. 1 1989

Business conditions and expected returns on stocks and bonds

Eugene F. Fama; Kenneth R. French

University of Chicago

Abstract

Expected returns on common stocks and long-term bonds contain a term or maturity premium that has a clear business-cycle pattern (low near peaks, high near troughs). Expected returns also contain a risk premium that is related to longer-term aspects of business conditions. The variation through time in this premium is stronger for low-grade bonds than for high-grade bonds and stronger for stocks than for bonds. The general message is that expected returns are lower when economic conditions are strong and higher when conditions are weak.

DOI
10.1016/0304-405x(89)90095-0
Volume
25
Issue
1
Pages
23-49
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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