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Journal of Finance Vol. 47 No. 4 1992

Arbitrage With Holding Costs: A Utility‐Based Approach

Bruce Tuckman; Jean-Luc Vila1,2

1 Cornell University · 2 New York Times

open access

Abstract

Unit time costs, or holding costs, are incurred in many arbitrage contexts. Examples include losing the use of short sale proceeds and lending funds at below market rates in reverse repurchase agreements. This paper analyzes the investment problem of a risk averse arbitrageur who faces holding costs. The model allows prices to deviate from “fundamental” values without allowing for riskless arbitrage opportunities. After characterizing an arbitrageur's optimal strategy, the model is examined in the context of the Treasury market. The analysis reveals that holding costs are an important friction in this market and that they can significantly affect arbitrageur behavior.

DOI
10.1111/j.1540-6261.1992.tb04658.x
Volume
47
Issue
4
Pages
1283-1302
Language
en
Sources
crossref openalex

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