The efficient frontier for bounded assets

This paper develops a closed form solution of the mean-variance portfolio selection problem for uncorrelated and bounded assets when an additional technical assumption is satisfied. Although the assumption of uncorrelated assets is unduly restrictive, the explicit determination of the efficient asset holdings in the presence of bound constraints gives insight into the nature of the efficient frontier. The mean-variance portfolio selection problem considered here deals with the budget constraint and lower bounds or the budget constraint and upper bounds. For the mean-variance portfolio selection problem dealing with lower bounds the closed form solution is derived for two cases: a universe of only risky assets and a universe of risky assets plus an additional asset which is risk free. For the mean-variance portfolio selection problem dealing with upper bounds, the results presented are for a universe consisting only of risky assets. In each case, the order in which the assets are driven to their bounds depends on the ordering of their expected returns.     

Classical mean-variance model revisited: pseudo efficiency

Investigating the inverse problem of the classical Markowitz mean-variance formulation: Given a mean-variance pair, find initial investment levels and their corresponding portfolio policies such that the given mean-variance pair can be realized, we reveal that any mean-variance pair inside the reachable region can be achieved by multiple portfolio policies associated with different initial investment levels. Therefore, in the mean-variance world for a market of all risky assets, the common belief of monotonicity: ‘The larger you invest, the larger expected future wealth you can expect for a given risk (variance) level’ does not hold, which stimulates us to extend the classical two-objective mean-variance framework to an expanded three-objective framework: to maximize the mean and minimize the variance of the final wealth as well as to minimize the initial investment level. As a result, we eliminate from the policy candidate list the set of pseudo efficient policies that are efficient in the original mean-variance space, but inefficient in this newly introduced three-dimensional objective space.     

Optimal time-consistent investment and reinsurance policies for mean-variance insurers

This paper investigates the optimal time-consistent policies of an investment-reinsurance problem and an investment-only problem under the mean-variance criterion for an insurer whose surplus process is approximated by a Brownian motion with drift. The financial market considered by the insurer consists of one risk-free asset and multiple risky assets whose price processes follow geometric Brownian motions. A general verification theorem is developed, and explicit closed-form expressions of the optimal polices and the optimal value functions are derived for the two problems. Economic implications and numerical sensitivity analysis are presented for our results. Our main findings are: (i) the optimal time-consistent policies of both problems are independent of their corresponding wealth processes; (ii) the two problems have the same optimal investment policies; (iii) the parameters of the risky assets (the insurance market) have no impact on the optimal reinsurance (investment) policy; (iv) the premium return rate of the insurer does not affect the optimal policies but affects the optimal value functions; (v) reinsurance can increase the mean-variance utility.     

跳扩散市场投资组合研究

研究了连续时间动态均值-方差投资组合选择问题.假设风险资产价格服从跳跃-扩散过程且具有卖空约束.投资者的目标是在给定期望终止时刻财富条件下,最小化终止时刻财富的方差.通过求解模型相应的Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellmen方程,得到了最优投资策略及有效前沿的显示解.结果显示,风险资产的卖空约束及价格过程的跳跃因素对最优投资策略及有效前沿的是不可忽略的.     

贝叶斯方法在养老基金资产负债管理中的应用

把一个静态资产负债管理模型———均值方差模型应用到定额给付养老金计划的资产负债管理中,在允许无风险借贷的条件下研究养老金在无风险资产和风险资产间的分配问题,用定量分析的方法求出了最优投资组合的一般形式;又针对投资收益率特征参数未知的情况,提出了矩估计和贝叶斯估计两种方法求解最优资本配置比例,将两种方法的结果与一般形式对比,分析了影响最优投资组合的因素,得知养老基金在风险资产中的投资比例与基金经理对风险的厌恶程度、风险资产的风险益酬、风险资产收益率的波动性成负相关关系;并且随决策者掌握的历史信息增加,在风险资产上的投资比例也随之增加,投资行为逐渐趋于理性化;对上述结果进行仿真,验证了结论的有效性。     

Asset allocation under loss aversion and minimum performance constraint in a DC pension plan with inflation risk

In this paper we investigate an optimal investment strategy for a defined-contribution (DC) pension plan member who is loss averse, pays close attention to inflation and longevity risks and requires a minimum performance at retirement. The member aims to maximize the expected S-shaped utility from the terminal wealth exceeding the minimum performance by investing her wealth in a financial market consisting of an indexed bond, a stock and a risk-free asset. We derive the optimal investment strategy in closed-form using the martingale approach. Our theoretical and numerical results reveal that the wealth proportion invested in each risky asset has a V-shaped pattern in the reference point level, while it always increases in the rising lifespan; with a positive correlation between salary and inflation risks, the presence of salary decreases the member’s investment in risky assets; the minimum performance helps to hedge the longevity risk by increasing her investment in risky assets.     

Dynamic mean-variance and optimal reinsurance problems under the no-bankruptcy constraint for an insurer

In this paper, we consider the optimal investment and optimal reinsurance problems for an insurer under the criterion of mean-variance with bankruptcy prohibition, i.e., the wealth process of the insurer is not allowed to be below zero at any time. The risk process is a diffusion model and the insurer can invest in a risk-free asset and multiple risky assets. In view of the standard martingale approach in tackling continuous-time portfolio choice models, we consider two subproblems. After solving the two subproblems respectively, we can obtain the solution to the mean-variance optimal problem. We also consider the optimal problem when bankruptcy is allowed. In this situation, we obtain the efficient strategy and efficient frontier using the stochastic linear-quadratic control theory. Then we compare the results in the two cases and give a numerical example to illustrate our results.     

A general framework for multistage mean-variance post-tax optimization

An investor’s decisions affect the way taxes are paid in a general portfolio investment, modifying the net redemption value and the yearly optimal portfolio distribution. We investigate the role of these decisions on multistage mean-variance portfolio allocation model. A number of risky assets grouped in wrappers with special taxation rules is integrated in a multistage financial portfolio optimization problem. The uncertainty on the returns of assets is specified as a scenario tree generated by simulation/clustering based approach. We show the impact of decisions in the yearly reallocation of the investments for three typical cases with an annual fixed withdrawal in a fixed horizon that utilizes completely the option of taper relief offered by banks in UK. Our computational framework can be used as a tool for testing decisions in this context.     

Robust portfolio choice with CVaR and VaR under distribution and mean return ambiguity

We consider the problem of optimal portfolio choice using the Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) and Value-at-Risk (VaR) measures for a market consisting of n risky assets and a riskless asset and where short positions are allowed. When the distribution of returns of risky assets is unknown but the mean return vector and variance/covariance matrix of the risky assets are fixed, we derive the distributionally robust portfolio rules. Then, we address uncertainty (ambiguity) in the mean return vector in addition to distribution ambiguity, and derive the optimal portfolio rules when the uncertainty in the return vector is modeled via an ellipsoidal uncertainty set. In the presence of a riskless asset, the robust CVaR and VaR measures, coupled with a minimum mean return constraint, yield simple, mean-variance efficient optimal portfolio rules. In a market without the riskless asset, we obtain a closed-form portfolio rule that generalizes earlier results, without a minimum mean return restriction.     

基于跳扩散模型的DC型 养老金时间一致最优投资策略的研究

将养老金投资过程分成财富积累阶段和财富给付阶段,建立了DC型养老金在退休前和退休后个人账户积累额变动的连续时间随机模型.该模型考虑了工资的随机风险因素,并用跳-扩散模型刻画风险资产.以均值-方差准则作为优化目标,运用推广的HJB方程分别得到了退休前和退休后的时间一致最优风险资产投资最优解.最后通过算例及敏感性分析研究了各个因素对风险资产投资的影响.在这些因素中缴费比例、死亡力对风险资产投资比例均有负向影响.     

STUDY ON THE INTERRELATION OF EFFICIENT PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR FRONTIER UNDER t DISTRIBUTION AND VARIOUS RISK MEASUREgS

In order to study the effect of different risk measures on the efficient portfolios （fron- tier） while properly describing the characteristic of return distributions in the stock market, it is assumed in this paper that the joint return distribution of risky assets obeys the multivariate t-distribution. Under the mean-risk analysis framework, the interrelationship of efficient portfolios （frontier） based on risk measures such as variance, value at risk （VaR）, and expected shortfall （ES） is analyzed and compared. It is proved that, when there is no riskless asset in the market, the efficient frontier under VaR or ES is a subset of the mean-variance （MV） efficient frontier, and the efficient portfolios under VaR or ES are also MV efficient; when there exists a riskless asset in the market, a portfolio is MV efficient if and only if it is a VaR or ES efficient portfolio. The obtained results generalize relevant conclusions about investment theory, and can better guide investors to make their investment decision.     

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.     

具有交易费用和马氏调制的均值-方差组合选择

研究了均值-方差准则下,最优投资组合选择问题.投资者为了增加财富它可以在金融市场上投资.金融市场由一个无风险资产和n个带跳的风险资产组成,并假设金融市场具有马氏调制,买卖风险资产时,考虑交易费用.目标是,在终值财富的均值等于d的限制下,使终值财富的方差最小,即均值-方差组合选择问题.应用随机控制的理论解决该问题,获得了最优的投资策略和有效边界.     

t-分布与不同风险度量下有效投资组合及其边缘的相互关系研究

In order to study the effect of different risk measures on the efficient portfolios (frontier) while properly describing the characteristic of return distributions in the stock market, it is assumed in this paper that the joint return distribution of risky assets obeys the multivariate t-distribution. Under the mean-risk analysis framework, the interrelationship of efficient portfolios (frontier) based on risk measures such as variance, value at risk (VaR), and expected shortfall (ES) is analyzed and compared. It is proved that, when there is no riskless asset in the market, the efficient frontier under VaR or ES is a subset of the mean-variance (MV) efficient frontier, and the efficient portfolios under VaR or ES are also MV efficient; when there exists a riskless asset in the market, a portfolio is MV efficient if and only if it is a VaR or ES efficient portfolio. The obtained results generalize relevant conclusions about investment theory, and can better guide investors to make their investment decision.     

STUDY ON THE INTERRELATION OF EFFICIENT PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR FRONTIER UNDER t DISTRIBUTION AND VARIOUS RISK MEASURES

In order to study the effect of different risk measures on the efficient portfolios (frontier) while properly describing the characteristic of return distributions in the stock market, it is assumed in this paper that the joint return distribution of risky assets obeys the multivari-ate t-distribution. Under the mean-risk analysis framework, the interrelationship of efficient portfolios (frontier) based on risk measures such as variance, value at risk (VaR), and expected shortfall (ES) is analyzed and compared. It is proved that, when there is no riskless asset in the market, the efficient frontier under VaR or ES is a subset of the mean-variance (MV) efficient frontier, and the efficient portfolios under VaR or ES are also MV efficient; when there exists a riskless asset in the market, a portfolio is MV efficient if and only if it is a VaR or ES efficient portfolio. The obtained results generalize relevant conclusions about investment theory, and can better guide investors to make their investment decision.     

Optimal proportional reinsurance and investment with transaction costs, I: Maximizing the terminal wealth

We consider a problem of optimal reinsurance and investment with multiple risky assets for an insurance company whose surplus is governed by a linear diffusion. The insurance company’s risk can be reduced through reinsurance, while in addition the company invests its surplus in a financial market with one risk-free asset and n risky assets. In this paper, we consider the transaction costs when investing in the risky assets. Also, we use Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) to control the whole risk. We consider the optimization problem of maximizing the expected exponential utility of terminal wealth and solve it by using the corresponding Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation. Explicit expression for the optimal value function and the corresponding optimal strategies are obtained.     

Non-separation in the mean–lower-partial-moment portfolio optimization problem

With a number of advantages, lower partial moments (LPM) serve as alternatives to variance as measures of portfolio risk. For two specific targets, a separation property holds in the context of mean–LPM portfolio optimization that allows investors to separate the decision about investment proportions among risky assets from the decision about how much to invest in risky versus risk-free assets. For other targets, however, separation is not guaranteed, and this case has not received much attention in the literature. We show in the case of non-separation that investment curves are not common to all optimizing investors, but that they are convex in (mean, LPM) space and their lower envelope is the efficient frontier. We consider the interesting behavior of investment curves and optimal risky portfolios. We also show empirically that an investor who mistakenly assumes separation holds will not experience significant excess portfolio risk in all practical cases.     

在不允许卖空条件下的最优比例再保险投资

假设保险公司的盈余过程服从一个带扰动项的布朗运动,保险公司可以投资一个无风险资产和n个风险资产,还可以购买比例再保险,并且风险市场是不允许卖空的.本文在均值一方差优化准则下研究保险公司的最优投资一再保策略选择问题,利用LQ随机控制方法求解模型,得到了保险公司的最优组合投资策略的解析和保险公司投资的有效投资边界的解析表达...     

Entropic risk measures and their comparative statics in portfolio selection: Coherence vs. convexity

We conduct a decision-theoretic analysis of optimal portfolio choices and, in particular, their comparative statics under two types of entropic risk measures, the coherent entropic risk measure (CERM) and the convex entropic risk measure (ERM). Starting with the portfolio selection between a risky and a risk free asset (framework of Arrow (1965) and Pratt (1964)), we find a restrictive all-or-nothing investment decision under the CERM, while the ERM yields diversification. We then address a portfolio problem with two risky assets, and provide comparative statics with respect to the investor’s risk aversion (framework of Ross (1981)). Here, both the CERM and the ERM exhibit closely interrelated inconsistencies with respect to the interpretation of their risk parameters as a measure of risk aversion: for any two investors with different risk parameters, it may happen that the investor with the higher risk parameter invests more in the riskier one of the two assets. Finally, we analyze the portfolio problem “risky vs. risk free” in the presence of an independent background risk, and analyze the effect of changes in this background risk (framework of Gollier and Pratt (1996)). Again, we find questionable predictions: under the CERM, the optimal risky investment is always increasing instead of decreasing when a background risk is introduced, while under the ERM it remains unaffected.