Machine Learning Applications in Computational Finance

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid expansion of machine learning (ML) is reshaping the landscape of computational finance, offering new analytical capabilities, enhanced predictive performance, and transformative decision-support tools across financial markets. This Special Issue seeks to bring together high-quality research that advances the theoretical understanding, methodological innovation, and practical implementation of ML techniques within financial contexts. We invite contributions that critically explore how data-driven models are redefining risk assessment, asset pricing, portfolio optimization, fraud detection, market microstructure analysis, and regulatory technology. Studies addressing interpretability, transparency, and model robustness are particularly encouraged, as these themes are central to the responsible integration of ML into financial decision making.

Both empirical and theoretical papers are welcome, including comparative evaluations of ML approaches, hybrid and deep learning architectures, explainable AI frameworks, and applications using alternative or high-frequency data. Submissions may focus on global or regional financial systems, institutional or retail settings, and traditional or emerging asset classes. Papers related to usability cases or applications to business finance practice are also accepted.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Predictive modeling for asset returns and volatility;
• Deep learning in algorithmic and high-frequency trading;
• ML-based credit scoring and bankruptcy prediction;
• Fraud and anomaly detection in payment and transaction systems;
• Explainable and interpretable ML in finance;
• ML applications in ESG finance, fintech, and regulatory compliance.

This Special Issue aims to serve as a platform for cutting-edge scholarship and stimulate future research at the intersection of finance, data science, and computational methods.

Dr. Ricardo Reier Forradellas
Dr. Luis Miguel Garay Gallastegui
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Financial Studies is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• machine learning in finance
• financial data analysis
• risk prediction
• trading models
• AI in banking and markets