On geometric ergodicity of skewed—SVCHARME models

Markov Chain Monte Carlo is repeatedly used to analyze the properties of intractable distributions in a convenient way. In this paper we derive conditions for geometric ergodicity of a general class of nonparametric stochastic volatility models with skewness driven by the hidden Markov Chain with switching.     

Nearly-Optimal Asset Allocation in Hybrid Stock Investment Models

This work develops a class of stock-investment models that are hybrid in nature and involve continuous dynamics and discrete-event interventions. In lieu of the usual geometric Brownian motion formulation, hybrid geometric Brownian motion models are proposed, in which both the expected return and the volatility depend on a finite-state Markov chain. Our objective is to find nearly-optimal asset allocation strategies so as to maximize the expected returns. The use of the Markov chain stems from the motivation of capturing the market trends as well as various economic factors. To incorporate these economic factors into the models, the underlying Markov chain inevitably has a large state space. To reduce the complexity, a hierarchical approach is suggested, which leads to singularly-perturbed switching diffusion processes. By aggregating the states of the Markov chains in each weakly irreducible class into a single state, limit switching diffusion processes are obtained. Using such asymptotic properties, nearly-optimal asset allocation policies are developed.     

Filter‐based portfolio strategies in an HMM setting with varying correlation parametrizations

We consider portfolio optimization in a regime‐switching market. The assets of the portfolio are modeled through a hidden Markov model (HMM) in discrete time, where drift and volatility of the single assets are allowed to switch between different states. We consider different parametrizations of the involved asset covariances: statewise uncorrelated assets (though linked through the common Markov chain), assets correlated in a state‐independent way, and assets where the correlation varies from state to state. As a benchmark, we also consider a model without regime switches. We utilize a filter‐based expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm to obtain optimal parameter estimates within this multivariate HMM and present parameter estimators in all three HMM settings. We discuss the impact of these different models on the performance of several portfolio strategies. Our findings show that for simulated returns, our strategies in many settings outperform naïve investment strategies, like the equal weights strategy. Information criteria can be used to detect the best model for estimation as well as for portfolio optimization. A second study using real data confirms these findings.     

Maximum likelihood estimation for stochastic volatility in mean models with heavy‐tailed distributions

In this article, we introduce a likelihood‐based estimation method for the stochastic volatility in mean (SVM) model with scale mixtures of normal (SMN) distributions. Our estimation method is based on the fact that the powerful hidden Markov model (HMM) machinery can be applied in order to evaluate an arbitrarily accurate approximation of the likelihood of an SVM model with SMN distributions. Likelihood‐based estimation of the parameters of stochastic volatility models, in general, and SVM models with SMN distributions, in particular, is usually regarded as challenging as the likelihood is a high‐dimensional multiple integral. However, the HMM approximation, which is very easy to implement, makes numerical maximum of the likelihood feasible and leads to simple formulae for forecast distributions, for computing appropriately defined residuals, and for decoding, that is, estimating the volatility of the process. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中国证券市场知情交易概率的动态马尔科夫状态转移模型研究

对指令驱动市场知情交易的研究是近年来的热点问题。常用的EKOP模型存在一些缺陷,本文放宽了EKOP模型关于日内信息均匀释放以及交易者行为独立性的假设,用动态的马尔科夫状态转移模型对该模型进行了改进,并检验了改进后的知情交易概率模型在中国证券市场的适用性。通过模拟数据以及对中国证券市场交易数据的实证研究发现动态的马尔科夫状态转移模型克服了EKOP模型受买卖方数据影响而产生的系统偏误,估计的知情交易概率更符合事后检验。     

Option pricing when asset returns jump interruptedly

This paper proposes an extension of Merton's jump‐diffusion model to reflect the time inhomogeneity caused by changes of market states. The benefit is that it simultaneously captures two salient features in asset returns: heavy tailness and volatility clustering. On the basis of an empirical analysis where jumps are found to happen much more frequently in risky periods than in normal periods, we assume that the Poisson process for driving jumps is governed by a two‐state on‐off Markov chain. This makes jumps happen interruptedly and helps to generate different dynamics under these two states. We provide a full analysis for the proposed model and derive the recursive formulas for the conditional state probabilities of the underlying Markov chain. These analytical results lead to an algorithm that can be implemented to determine the prices of European options under normal and risky states. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate how time inhomogeneity influences return distributions, option prices, and volatility smiles. The contrasting patterns seen in different states indicate the insufficiency of using time‐homogeneous models and justify the use of the proposed model. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pricing Volatility Swaps Under Heston's Stochastic Volatility Model with Regime Switching

A model is developed for pricing volatility derivatives, such as variance swaps and volatility swaps under a continuous‐time Markov‐modulated version of the stochastic volatility (SV) model developed by Heston. In particular, it is supposed that the parameters of this version of Heston's SV model depend on the states of a continuous‐time observable Markov chain process, which can be interpreted as the states of an observable macroeconomic factor. The market considered is incomplete in general, and hence, there is more than one equivalent martingale pricing measure. The regime switching Esscher transform used by Elliott et al. is adopted to determine a martingale pricing measure for the valuation of variance and volatility swaps in this incomplete market. Both probabilistic and partial differential equation (PDE) approaches are considered for the valuation of volatility derivatives.     

Conditionally heteroscedastic factorial HMMs for time series in finance

In this article, we develop a new approach within the framework of asset pricing models that incorporates two key features of the latent volatility: co‐movement among conditionally heteroscedastic financial returns and switching between different unobservable regimes. By combining latent factor models with hidden Markov chain models we derive a dynamical local model for segmentation and prediction of multivariate conditionally heteroscedastic financial time series. We concentrate more precisely on situations where the factor variances are modelled by univariate generalized quadratic autoregressive conditionally heteroscedastic processes. The expectation maximization algorithm that we have developed for the maximum likelihood estimation is based on a quasi‐optimal switching Kalman filter approach combined with a generalized pseudo‐Bayesian approximation, which yield inferences about the unobservable path of the common factors, their variances and the latent variable of the state process. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations and preliminary experiments obtained with daily foreign exchange rate returns of eight currencies show promising results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On Limit Results for a Class of Singularly Perturbed Switching Diffusions

This work is devoted to the weak convergence analysis of a class of aggregated processes resulting from singularly perturbed switching diffusions with fast and slow motions. The processes consist of diffusion components and pure jump components. The states of the pure jump component are naturally divisible into a number of classes. Aggregate the states in each weakly irreducible class by a single state leading to an aggregated process. Under suitable conditions, it is shown that the aggregated process converges weakly to a switching diffusion process whose generator is an average with respect to the quasi-stationary distribution of the jump process.     

Temporal aggregation in structural VAR models

This paper examines the effects of temporal aggregation on the estimated time series properties of economic data. Theory predicts that temporal aggregation loses information about the underlying data processes. We derive low frequency, quarterly and annual, models implied by high frequency, monthly, structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) models and we find that these losses in information are substantial. It is shown that the accuracy of both the estimates and the forecasts of this class of models improve substantially when monthly data are used. Moreover, the aggregated data show more long-run persistence than the underlying disaggregated data. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Convergence Rate of Random Permutation Sampler and ECR Algorithm in Missing Data Models

Label switching is a well-known phenomenon that occurs in MCMC outputs targeting the parameters’ posterior distribution of many latent variable models. Although its appearence is necessary for the convergence of the simulated Markov chain, it turns out to be a problem in the estimation procedure. In a recent paper, Papastamoulis and Iliopoulos (J Comput Graph Stat 19:313–331, 2010) introduced the Equivalence Classes Representatives (ECR) algorithm as a solution of this problem in the context of finite mixtures of distributions. In this paper, label switching is considered under a general missing data model framework that includes as special cases finite mixtures, hidden Markov models, and Markov random fields. The use of ECR algorithm is extended to this general framework and is shown that the relabelled sequence which it produces converges to its target distribution at the same rate as the Random Permutation Sampler of Frühwirth-Schnatter (2001) and that both converge at least as fast as the Markov chain generated by the original MCMC output.     

A general autoregressive model with Markov switching: Estimation and consistency

In this paper, a general autoregressive model with Markov switching is considered, where the autoregression may be of an infinite order. The consistency of the maximum likelihood estimators for this model is obtained under regularity assumptions. Examples of finite and infinite order autoregressive models with Markov switching are discussed. Simulation studies with these examples illustrate the consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimators.      

Multi-policy improvement in stochastic optimization with forward recursive function criteria

Iwamoto recently established a formal transformation via an invariant imbedding to construct a controlled Markov chain that can be solved in a backward manner, as in backward induction for finite-horizon Markov decision processes (MDPs), for a given controlled Markov chain with non-additive forward recursive objective function criterion. Chang et al. presented formal methods, called “parallel rollout” and “policy switching,” of combining given multiple policies in MDPs and showed that the policies generated by both methods improve all of the policies that the methods combine. This brief paper extends the methods of parallel rollout and policy switching for forward recursive objective function criteria and shows that the similar property holds as in MDPs. We further discuss how to implement these methods via simulation.     

Hierarchical Bayesian autoregressive models for large space–time data with applications to ozone concentration modelling

Increasingly large volumes of space–time data are collected everywhere by mobile computing applications, and in many of these cases, temporal data are obtained by registering events, for example, telecommunication or Web traffic data. Having both the spatial and temporal dimensions adds substantial complexity to data analysis and inference tasks. The computational complexity increases rapidly for fitting Bayesian hierarchical models, as such a task involves repeated inversion of large matrices. The primary focus of this paper is on developing space–time autoregressive models under the hierarchical Bayesian setup. To handle large data sets, a recently developed Gaussian predictive process approximation method is extended to include autoregressive terms of latent space–time processes. Specifically, a space–time autoregressive process, supported on a set of a smaller number of knot locations, is spatially interpolated to approximate the original space–time process. The resulting model is specified within a hierarchical Bayesian framework, and Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques are used to make inference. The proposed model is applied for analysing the daily maximum 8‐h average ground level ozone concentration data from 1997 to 2006 from a large study region in the Eastern United States. The developed methods allow accurate spatial prediction of a temporally aggregated ozone summary, known as the primary ozone standard, along with its uncertainty, at any unmonitored location during the study period. Trends in spatial patterns of many features of the posterior predictive distribution of the primary standard, such as the probability of noncompliance with respect to the standard, are obtained and illustrated. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The dynamics of the relationship between spot and futures markets under high and low variance regimes

This investigation is one of the first studies to examine the dynamics of the relationship between spot and futures markets using the Markov‐switching vector error correction model. Three mature stock markets including the U.S. S&P500, the U.K. FTSE100 and the German DAX 30, and two emerging markets including the Brazil Bovespa and the Hungary BSI, are used to test the model, and the differences between the two sets of markets are examined. The empirical findings of this study are consistent with the following notions. First, after filtering out the high variance regime, the futures price is shown to lead the spot price in the price discovery process, as demonstrated by prior studies; conversely, the spot market is more informationally efficient than the futures market under the high variance condition. Second, the price adjustment process triggered by arbitrage trading between spot and futures markets during a high variance state is greater in scale than that based on a low variance state, and the degree of the co‐movement between spot and futures markets is significantly reduced during the high variance state. Third, a crisis condition involved in the high variance state is defined for the two emerging markets, whereas an unusual condition is presented for the three mature markets. Last, the lagged spot–futures price deviations perform as an information variable for the variance‐turning process. However, the portion of the variance‐switching process accounted for by this signal variable is statistically marginal for the three mature markets selected for this study. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On a Class of Models of Stochastic Geometry Constructed by Random Measures

This article presents a class of models in stochastic geometry that are constructed by random measures. This class includes well‐known point processes such as Matérn's hard‐core processes, the tangent point process of the Boolean model, and the point process of vertices of the Poisson Voronoi tessellation. Sufficient conditions for measurability, stationarity and isotropy of the processes of this class are given, as well as formulae for the intensity measure. Furthermore, a property of the Palm distributions can be interpreted as a generalization of Slivnyak's theorem.     

Pension funding problem with regime‐switching geometric Brownian motion assets and liabilities

This paper extends the pension funding model in (N. Am. Actuarial J. 2003; 7 :37–51) to a regime‐switching case. The market mode is modeled by a continuous‐time stationary Markov chain. The asset value process and liability value process are modeled by Markov‐modulated geometric Brownian motions. We consider a pension funding plan in which the asset value is to be within a band that is proportional to the liability value. The pension plan sponsor is asked to provide sufficient funds to guarantee the asset value stays above the lower barrier of the band. The amount by which the asset value exceeds the upper barrier will be paid back to the sponsor. By applying differential equation approach, this paper calculates the expected present value of the payments to be made by the sponsor as well as that of the refunds to the sponsor. In addition, we study the effects of different barriers and regime switching on the results using some numerical examples. The optimal dividend problem is studied in our examples as an application of our theory. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal harvesting policy of an inland fishery resource under incomplete information

A new mathematical model for finding the optimal harvesting policy of an inland fishery resource under incomplete information is proposed in this paper. The model is based on a stochastic control formalism in a regime‐switching environment. The incompleteness of information is due to uncertainties involved in the body growth rate of the fishery resource: a key biological parameter. Finding the most cost‐effective harvesting policy of the fishery resource ultimately reduces to solving a terminal and boundary value problem of a Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman equation: a nonlinear and degenerate parabolic partial differential equation. A simple finite difference scheme for solving the equation is then presented, which turns out to be convergent and generates numerical solutions that comply with certain theoretical upper and lower bounds. The model is finally applied to the management of Plecoglossus altivelis, a major inland fishery resource in Japan. The regime switching in this case is due to the temporal dynamics of benthic algae, the main food of the fish. Model parameter values are identified from field measurement results in 2017. Our computational results clearly show the dependence of the optimal harvesting policy on the river environmental and biological conditions. The proposed model would serve as a mathematical tool for fishery resource management under uncertainties.     

Ergodicity and threshold behaviors of a predator‐prey model in stochastic chemostat driven by regime switching

This paper deals with a stochastic predator‐prey model in chemostat which is driven by Markov regime switching. For the asymptotic behaviors of this stochastic system, we establish the sufficient conditions for the existence of the stationary distribution. Then, we investigate, respectively, the extinction of the prey and predator populations. We explore the new critical numbers between survival and extinction for species of the dual‐threshold chemostat model. Numerical simulations are accomplished to confirm our analytical conclusions.     

Asymptotic optimal inference for multivariate branching-Markov processes via martingale estimating functions and mixed normality

Multivariate tree-indexed Markov processes are discussed with applications. A Galton-Watson super-critical branching process is used to model the random tree-indexed process. Martingale estimating functions are used as a basic framework to discuss asymptotic properties and optimality of estimators and tests. The limit distributions of the estimators turn out to be mixtures of normals rather than normal. Also, the non-null limit distributions of standard test statistics such as Wald, Rao’s score, and likelihood ratio statistics are shown to have mixtures of non-central chi-square distributions. The models discussed in this paper belong to the local asymptotic mixed normal family. Consequently, non-standard limit results are obtained.