Eur. Phys. J. B (2014) 87: 1
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-40587-y

Regular Article

Bubbles, shocks and elementary technical trading strategies

The University of Sheffield, Management School, Conduit Road, Sheffield S10 1 FL, UK

^a e-mail: frymaths@googlemail.com

Received: 18 June 2013
Received in final form: 20 September 2013
Published online: 7 January 2014

Abstract

In this paper we provide a unifying framework for a set of seemingly disparate models for bubbles, shocks and elementary technical trading strategies in financial markets. Markets operate by balancing intrinsic levels of risk and return. This seemingly simple observation is commonly over-looked by academics and practitioners alike. Our model shares its origins in statistical physics with others. However, under our approach, changes in market regime can be explicitly shown to represent a phase transition from random to deterministic behaviour in prices. This structure leads to an improved physical and econometric model. We develop models for bubbles, shocks and elementary technical trading strategies. The list of empirical applications is both interesting and topical and includes real-estate bubbles and the on-going Eurozone crisis. We close by comparing the results of our model with purely qualitative findings from the finance literature.