The matrix-t distribution and its applications in predictive inference

The predictive distributions of the future responses and regression matrix under the multivariate elliptically contoured distributions are derived using structural approach. The predictive distributions are obtained as matrix-t which are identical to those obtained under matrix normal and matrix- t distributions. This gives inference robustness with respect to departures from the reference case of independent sampling from the matrix normal or dependent but uncorrelated sampling from matrix- t distributions. Some successful applications of matrix-t distribution in the field of spatial prediction have been addressed.