Estimation risk and stability of optimal portfolio composition

The mean-variance portfolio models indicate that for optimal investment decisions, the ‘true’ ex-ante values of the model parameters should be used. Instead, in practice, ex-post parameter estimates are used. If in the estimation process, the probability distribution of estimators is not known, there is a problem of estimation risk. This paper investigates the impact of estimation risk on the composition of optimal portfolios. As the multivariance distribution of the vector of optimal portfolio weights allocated to risky assets is analytically intractable, a use of the Monte Carlo simulation experimental is made. This study suggests that the composition of optimal portfolio is relatively more stable when the estimates of model parameters are obtained from longer series of historical observations or the expected portfolio return is low.     

Robust portfolio optimization: a conic programming approach

The Markowitz Mean Variance model (MMV) and its variants are widely used for portfolio selection. The mean and covariance matrix used in the model originate from probability distributions that need to be determined empirically. It is well known that these parameters are notoriously difficult to estimate. In addition, the model is very sensitive to these parameter estimates. As a result, the performance and composition of MMV portfolios can vary significantly with the specification of the mean and covariance matrix. In order to address this issue we propose a one-period mean-variance model, where the mean and covariance matrix are only assumed to belong to an exogenously specified uncertainty set. The robust mean-variance portfolio selection problem is then written as a conic program that can be solved efficiently with standard solvers. Both second order cone program (SOCP) and semidefinite program (SDP) formulations are discussed. Using numerical experiments with real data we show that the portfolios generated by the proposed robust mean-variance model can be computed efficiently and are not as sensitive to input errors as the classical MMV??s portfolios.     

Theoretical and empirical estimates of mean–variance portfolio sensitivity

This paper studies properties of an estimator of mean–variance portfolio weights in a market model with multiple risky assets and a riskless asset. Theoretical formulas for the mean square error are derived in the case when asset excess returns are multivariate normally distributed and serially independent. The sensitivity of the portfolio estimator to errors arising from the estimation of the covariance matrix and the mean vector is quantified. It turns out that the relative contribution of the covariance matrix error depends mainly on the Sharpe ratio of the market portfolio and the sampling frequency of historical data. Theoretical studies are complemented by an investigation of the distribution of portfolio estimator for empirical datasets. An appropriately crafted bootstrapping method is employed to compute the empirical mean square error. Empirical and theoretical estimates are in good agreement, with the empirical values being, in general, higher.     

Portfolio management with background risk under uncertain mean-variance utility

This paper studies comparative static effects in a portfolio selection problem when the investor has mean-variance preferences. Since the security market is complex, there exists the situation where security returns are given by experts’ estimates when they cannot be reflected by historical data. This paper discusses the problem in such a situation. Based on uncertainty theory, the paper first establishes an uncertain mean-variance utility model, in which security returns and background asset returns are uncertain variables and subject to normal uncertainty distributions. Then, the effects of changes in mean and standard deviation of uncertain background asset on capital allocation are discussed. Furthermore, the influence of initial proportion in background asset on portfolio investment decisions is analyzed when investors have quadratic mean-variance utility function. Finally, the economic analysis illustration of investment strategy is presented.

     

Estimation for regression with infinite variance errors

This paper addresses the problem of modelling time series with nonstationarity from a finite number of observations. Problems encountered with the time varying parameters in regression type models led to the smoothing techniques. The smoothing methods basically rely on the finiteness of the error variance, and thus, when this requirement fails, particularly when the error distribution is heavy tailed, the existing smoothing methods due to [1], are no longer optimal. In this paper, we propose a penalized minimum dispersion method for time varying parameter estimation when a regression model generated by an infinite variance stable process with characteristic exponent α ε (1, 2). Recursive estimates are evaluated and it is shown that these estimates for a nonstationary process with normal errors is a special case.     

Effects of measurement error on a class of single-index varying coefficient regression models

This paper investigates the estimation in a class of single-index varying coefficient regression model when some covariates are contaminated with measurement errors. A bias-corrected least square procedure based on the observed data is proposed. By replacing the nonparametric single index part with a local linear approximation, an iterative algorithm for estimating the index parameter is proposed. More importantly, a special case is identified in which the naive procedure provides consistent estimates for the single index parameters. Large sample properties of the proposed estimators are established. The finite sample performance of the proposed estimators are evaluated by simulation studies.     

Generalized least squares and maximum likelihood estimations of multivariate polychoric correlations

This paper investigates the generalized least squares estimation and the maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters in a multivariate polychoric correlations model, based on data from a multidimensional contingency table. Asymptotic properties of the estimators are discussed. An iterative procedure based on the Gauss-Newton algorithm is implemented to produce the generalized least squares estimates and the standard errors estimates. It is shown that via an iteratively reweighted method, the algorithm produces the maximum likelihood estimates as well. Numerical results on the finite sample behaviors of the methods are reported.     

An exact solution to a robust portfolio choice problem with multiple risk measures under ambiguous distribution

This paper proposes a unified framework to solve distributionally robust mean-risk optimization problem that simultaneously uses variance, value-at-risk (VaR) and conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) as a triple-risk measure. It provides investors with more flexibility to find portfolios in the sense that it allows investors to optimize a return-risk profile in the presence of estimation error. We derive a closed-form expression for the optimal portfolio strategy to the robust mean-multiple risk portfolio selection model under distribution and mean return ambiguity (RMP). Specially, the robust mean-variance, robust maximum return, robust minimum VaR and robust minimum CVaR efficient portfolios are all special instances of RMP portfolios. We analytically and numerically show that the resulting portfolio weight converges to the minimum variance portfolio when the level of ambiguity aversion is in a high value. Using numerical experiment with simulated data, we demonstrate that our robust portfolios under ambiguity are more stable over time than the non-robust portfolios.     

Asymptotic behavior of Mean-CVaR portfolio selection model under nonparametric framework

Portfolio selection is an important issue in finance and it involves the balance between risk and return. This paper investigates portfolio selection under Mean-CVa R model in a nonparametric framework with α-mixing data as financial data tends to be dependent. Many works have provided some insight into the performance of portfolio selection from the aspects of data and simulation while in this paper we concentrate on the asymptotic behaviors of the optimal solutions and risk estimation in theory.     

Local error estimates for moderately smooth problems: Part I – ODEs and DAEs

The paper consists of two parts. In the first part, we propose a procedure to estimate local errors of low order methods applied to solve initial value problems in ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and index 1 differential-algebraic equations (DAEs). Based on the idea of defect correction we develop local error estimates for the case when the problem data is only moderately smooth. Numerical experiments illustrate the performance of the mesh adaptation based on the error estimation developed in this paper. In the second part of the paper, we will consider the estimation of local errors in context of stochastic differential equations with small noise. AMS subject classification (2000)  65L06, 65L80, 65L50, 65L05     

Solving non-linear portfolio optimization problems with interval analysis

Estimation errors or uncertainities in expected return and risk measures create difficulties for portfolio optimization. The literature deals with the uncertainty using stochastic, fuzzy or probability programming. This paper proposes a new approach to treating uncertainty. By assuming that the expected return and risk vary within a bounded interval, this paper uses interval analysis to extend the classical mean-variance portfolio optimization problem to the cases with bounded uncertainty. To solve the interval quadratic programming problem, the paper adopts order relations to transform the uncertain programme into a deterministic programme, and includes the investors’ risk preference into the model. Numerical analysis illustrates the advantage of this new approach against conventional methods.     

Estimating manipulation errors in finite element analysis part II

With the increasing use of microcomputers for engineering research and production analyses, control of round-off error is of increasing concern. An essential ingredient in control is the ability to estimate the errors. Part I of this paper described the errors in processing numbers with digital computers [4]. This part, Part II, presents and illustrates the effectiveness of error estimation for three goals: pre-estimating, measuring actual errors, and identifying the error source. Pre-estimation is intended to eliminate analyses whose results would be inaccurate. Measurement of actual errors qualifies the accuracy of calculations. Error source identification leads to selection of error reduction methods.The authors conclude that bound estimates of lost precision are excessively high, do not correlate with actual round-off errors, and are not reliable in identifying the key sources of error. Experiments show that the closure measure provides excellent estimates of maximum error in stress predictions. This fact suggests a conservative approach to protect against use of inaccurate analysis results.     

Robust portfolio asset allocation and risk measures

Many financial optimization problems involve future values of security prices, interest rates and exchange rates which are not known in advance, but can only be forecast or estimated. Several methodologies have therefore been proposed to handle the uncertainty in financial optimization problems. One such methodology is Robust Statistics, which addresses the problem of making estimates of the uncertain parameters that are insensitive to small variations. A different way to achieve robustness is provided by Robust Optimization, which looks for solutions that will achieve good objective function values for the realization of the uncertain parameters in given uncertainty sets. Robust Optimization thus offers a vehicle to incorporate an estimation of uncertain parameters into the decision making process. This is true, for example, in portfolio asset allocation. Starting with the robust counterparts of the classical mean-variance and minimum-variance portfolio optimization problems, in this paper we review several mathematical models, and related algorithmic approaches, that have recently been proposed to address uncertainty in portfolio asset allocation, focusing on Robust Optimization methodology. We also give an overview of some of the computational results that have been obtained with the described approaches. In addition we analyze the relationship between the concepts of robustness and convex risk measures.     

Local error estimates for moderately smooth problems: Part II—SDEs and SDAEs with small noise

The paper consists of two parts. In the first part of the paper, we proposed a procedure to estimate local errors of low order methods applied to solve initial value problems in ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and index-1 differential-algebraic equations (DAEs). Based on the idea of Defect Correction we developed local error estimates for the case when the problem data is only moderately smooth, which is typically the case in stochastic differential equations. In this second part, we will consider the estimation of local errors in context of mean-square convergent methods for stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with small noise and index-1 stochastic differential-algebraic equations (SDAEs). Numerical experiments illustrate the performance of the mesh adaptation based on the local error estimation developed in this paper. The first author acknowledges support by the BMBF-project 03RONAVN and the second author support by the Austrian Science Fund Project P17253.     

Robust portfolio asset allocation and risk measures

Many financial optimization problems involve future values of security prices, interest rates and exchange rates which are not known in advance, but can only be forecast or estimated. Several methodologies have therefore, been proposed to handle the uncertainty in financial optimization problems. One such methodology is Robust Statistics, which addresses the problem of making estimates of the uncertain parameters that are insensitive to small variations. A different way to achieve robustness is provided by Robust Optimization which, given optimization problems with uncertain parameters, looks for solutions that will achieve good objective function values for the realization of these parameters in given uncertainty sets. Robust Optimization thus offers a vehicle to incorporate an estimation of uncertain parameters into the decision making process. This is true, for example, in portfolio asset allocation. Starting with the robust counterparts of the classical mean-variance and minimum-variance portfolio optimization problems, in this paper we review several mathematical models, and related algorithmic approaches, that have recently been proposed to address uncertainty in portfolio asset allocation, focusing on Robust Optimization methodology. We also give an overview of some of the computational results that have been obtained with the described approaches. In addition we analyse the relationship between the concepts of robustness and convex risk measures.     

A sequential algorithm and error sensitivity analysis for the inverse heat conduction problems with multiple heat sources

This paper proposes a sequential approach to determine the unknown parameters for inverse heat conduction problems which have multiple time-dependent heat sources. There are two main aims in this study, one is to derive an inverse algorithm that can estimate the unknown conditions effectively, and the other is to bring up a theoretical sensitivity analysis to discuss what causes the growth of errors. This paper has three major achievements with regard to the literature on IHCPs, as follows: (1) proposing an efficient sequential inverse algorithm that can simultaneously determine several unknown time-dependent parameters; (2) exploring why the sequential function specification method can provide a stable but inaccurate estimation when tackling problems with larger measurement errors; and (3) discussing the sensitivity problem and analyzing what factors cause the growth in error sensitivity. Three examples are applied to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method, and the numerical results show that the accurate estimations can be obtained by alleviating the error sensitivity when the measurement error is considered.     

Optimal nonparametric estimation of the density of regression errors with finite support

Knowledge of the probability distribution of error in a regression problem plays an important role in verification of an assumed regression model, making inference about predictions, finding optimal regression estimates, suggesting confidence bands and goodness of fit tests as well as in many other issues of the regression analysis. This article is devoted to an optimal estimation of the error probability density in a general heteroscedastic regression model with possibly dependent predictors and regression errors. Neither the design density nor regression function nor scale function is assumed to be known, but they are suppose to be differentiable and an estimated error density is suppose to have a finite support and to be at least twice differentiable. Under this assumption the article proves, for the first time in the literature, that it is possible to estimate the regression error density with the accuracy of an oracle that knows “true” underlying regression errors. Real and simulated examples illustrate importance of the error density estimation as well as the suggested oracle methodology and the method of estimation.     

基于动态损失厌恶投资组合优化模型及实证研究

为了研究行为金融学中损失厌恶的心理特征对投资决策的影响,建立预期效用最大化的动态损失厌恶投资组合优化模型。以我国股票市场为依托进行实证研究,将市场分为上升、下降和盘整三种状态,研究动态损失厌恶投资组合模型的表现,与静态损失厌恶投资组合模型、均值-方差投资组合模型和CVaR投资组合模型进行比较。通过改变参照点对动态模型进行稳健性检验。得出动态损失厌恶投资组合模型优于静态模型、均值-方差投资组合模型和CVaR投资组合模型的结论。     

Bootstrap estimation of the efficient frontier

In this paper, we propose a bootstrap resampling methodology to obtain the confidence intervals for efficient portfolios weights and the sample characteristics of the mean-variance efficient frontier. We provide an estimate of efficient portfolios, compute the confidence region of the efficient frontier and get the prediction densities of the future efficient portfolio returns without distributional assumptions on returns. An extensive simulation study evaluates the finite-sample performance of these bootstrap intervals and stresses the advantages of such approach. Interestingly, the methodology can be easily modified to make inferences that incorporate our modelling of returns in the predictive efficient frontier estimation with or without additional managerial restrictions.