We consider continuous-state branching processes (CB processes) which become extinct almost surely. First, we tackle the problem of describing the stationary measures on $(0,+\infty)$ for such CB processes. We give a representation of the stationary measure in terms of scale functions of related Lévy processes. Then we prove that the stationary measure can be obtained from the vague limit of the potential measure, and, in the critical case, can also be obtained from the vague limit of a normalized transition probability. Next, we prove some limit theorems for the CB process conditioned on extinction in a near future and on extinction at a fixed time. We obtain non-degenerate limit distributions which are of the size-biased type of the stationary measure in the critical case and of the Yaglom distribution in the subcritical case. Finally we explore some further properties of the limit distributions.

Multivariate regular variation plays a role in assessing tail risk in diverse applications such as finance, telecommunications, insurance, and environmental science. The classical theory, being based on an asymptotic model, sometimes leads to inaccurate and useless estimates of probabilities of joint tail regions. This problem can be partly ameliorated by using hidden regular variation (see Resnick (2002) and Mitra and Resnick (2011)). We offer a more flexible definition of hidden regular variation that provides improved risk estimates for a larger class of tail risk regions.

The paper considers one of the standard processes for modeling returns in finance, the stochastic volatility process with regularly varying innovations. The aim of the paper is to show how point process techniques can be used to derive the asymptotic behavior of the sample autocorrelation function of this process with heavy-tailed marginal distributions. Unlike other non-linear models used in finance, such as GARCH and bilinear models, sample autocorrelations of a stochastic volatility process have attractive asymptotic properties. Specifically, in the infinite variance case, the sample autocorrelation function converges to zero in probability at a rate that is faster the heavier the tails of the marginal distribution. This behavior is analogous to the asymptotic behavior of the sample autocorrelations of independent identically distributed random variables.

The paper is concerned with the relationship between various modes of convergence for stochastically monotone sequences of random variables. A necessary and sufficient condition, as well as a sufficient condition, for convergence in probability of a vaguely convergent sequence are given. If, in addition, the sequence is assumed Markovian the same conditions are shown to pertain to almost sure convergence. A counterexample in the case when stochastic monotonicity fails is presented and some applications to branching processes are discussed.