Likelihood stabilization for ill-conditioned vector GARCH models

The likelihood of vector GARCH models is ill-conditioned because of two facts. First, when the series display high correlations, as often happens with financial data, some eigenvalues of the conditional covariance matrix are close to zero. Second, the likelihood function is very flat in the neighborhood of the optimum due to the functional form of the GARCH process. These facts explain the instability of multivariate GARCH estimation procedures. Building on this analysis, we suggest a data transformation which moves the critical eigenvalues far from zero and, therefore, improves the stability of iterative optimization methods. The transformed values are re-scaled principal components, so their interpretation is straightforward. The application of this technique is illustrated by modeling the short-run conditional correlations of four nominal exchange rates.      

‘Horses for Courses’ in demand forecasting

Forecasting as a scientific discipline has progressed a lot in the last 40 years, with Nobel prizes being awarded for seminal work in the field, most notably to Engle, Granger and Kahneman. Despite these advances, even today we are unable to answer a very simple question, the one that is always the first tabled during discussions with practitioners: “what is the best method for my data?”. In essence, as there are horses for courses, there must also be forecasting methods that are more tailored to some types of data, and, therefore, enable practitioners to make informed method selection when facing new data. The current study attempts to shed light on this direction via identifying the main determinants of forecasting accuracy, through simulations and empirical investigations involving 14 popular forecasting methods (and combinations of them), seven time series features (seasonality, trend, cycle, randomness, number of observations, inter-demand interval and coefficient of variation) and one strategic decision (the forecasting horizon). Our main findings dictate that forecasting accuracy is influenced as follows: (a) for fast-moving data, cycle and randomness have the biggest (negative) effect and the longer the forecasting horizon, the more accuracy decreases; (b) for intermittent data, inter-demand interval has bigger (negative) impact than the coefficient of variation; and (c) for all types of data, increasing the length of a series has a small positive effect.     

Inventory control under temporal demand heteroscedasticity

This paper studies an inventory control problem when the variance of demand is time-varying and exhibits temporal heteroscedasticity. We use a first-order autoregressive process to characterize the dynamic changes in the level of demand over time and a GARCH(1, 1) structure to describe the changes in the variance of demand. Under these demand settings, we quantify the effect of a temporal heterogeneous variance on inventory performance for a system controlled via an order-up-to-level policy. We show that the effect of temporal heteroscedasticity on the forecasting accuracy can be additively decomposed from the total forecasting error variance. The decomposition is used to derive the absolute and relative cost deviations when the temporal heteroscedasticity is ignored. The relationship of these cost deviations to demand autocorrelation and replenishment leadtime is investigated. Computational results show that ignoring temporal heteroscedasticity can increase firm’s inventory costs by as much as 30% when demand autocorrelation is highly positive.     

Improving density forecast by modeling asymmetric features: An application to S&P500 returns

A density forecast is an estimate of the probability distribution of the possible future values of a random variable. From the current literature, an economic time series may have three types of asymmetry: asymmetry in unconditional distribution, asymmetry in conditional distribution, volatility asymmetry. In this paper, we propose three density forecasting methods under two-piece normal assumption to capture these asymmetric features. A GARCH model with two-piece normal distribution is developed to capture asymmetries in the conditional distributions. In this approach, we first estimate parameters of a GARCH model by assuming normal innovations, and then fit a two-piece normal distribution to the empirical residuals. Block bootstrap procedure, and moving average method with two-piece normal distribution are presented for volatility asymmetry and asymmetry in the conditional distributions. Application of the developed methods to the weekly S&P500 returns illustrates that forecast quality can be significantly improved by modeling these asymmetric features.     

The convergence of estimators based on heuristics: theory and application to a GARCH model

Econometric theory describes estimators and their properties, e.g., the convergence of maximum likelihood estimators. However, it is ignored that often the estimators cannot be computed using standard tools, e.g., due to multiple local optima. Then, optimization heuristics might be helpful. The additional random component of heuristics might be analyzed together with the econometric model. A formal framework is proposed for the analysis of the joint convergence of estimator and stochastic optimization algorithm. In an application to a GARCH model, actual rates of convergence are estimated by simulation. The overall quality of the estimates improves compared to conventional approaches. We are indebted to Manfred Gilli and an anonymous referee of this journal for valuable comments on a preliminary draft of this paper. Financial support from the EU Commission through MRTN-CT-2006-034270 COMISEF is gratefully acknowledged.     

GARCH模型变点的Ratio检验

研究GARCH模型参数变点的Ratio检验.首先构造了基于残量累积平方和的Ratio统计量,推导了原假设下统计量的极限分布,其次采用Monte Carlo方法检验其有效性,最后以数据为例进一步说明该方法的实用性.     

GARCH模型对上海股市的一个实证研究

GARCH模型是近20年发展起来的时间序列模型，它反映了经济变量之间特殊的不确定形式：方差随时间变化而变化，所以其在金融市场的预测与决策方面有着重要的作用。本文详细介绍了GARCH模型以及其主要变形，并建立了基于t分布和正态分布假设的GARCH（1，1）模型对股票市场进行了风险分析。结果表明，基于t分布的假设能更准确地拟和GARCH（1，1）模型。     

基于GARCH模型的中美汇率实证分析

汇率制度改革后,加强人民币汇率风险管理已成为摆在各大经济主体面前的重大课题.基于2010年1月1日至2012年5月10日的美元对人民币日汇率值,利用广义条件异方差自回归(GARCH)模型,对中美汇率日数据进行处理与检验,得到了残差存在异方差性.在此基础上建立了汇率GARCH模型,实证分析表明精确性高.     

基于MCMC的贝叶斯变结构金融时序GARCH模型研究

针对变结构GARCH模型没有解析形式的条件后验分布的问题。借助辅助变量把没有具体解析形式的后验分布转化为一系列完全条件分布,实现了变结构GARCH模型参数的贝叶斯估计。中国外汇市场波动性的实证研究,表明了辅助变量-Gibbs抽样有效的解决了贝叶斯变结构GARCH模型中的高维数值计算问题,并发现其波动持续性是由时间序列的状态转移引起的。     

Whittle estimation in a heavy-tailed GARCH(1,1) model

The squares of a GARCH(p,q) process satisfy an ARMA equation with white noise innovations and parameters which are derived from the GARCH model. Moreover, the noise sequence of this ARMA process constitutes a strongly mixing stationary process with geometric rate. These properties suggest to apply classical estimation theory for stationary ARMA processes. We focus on the Whittle estimator for the parameters of the resulting ARMA model. Giraitis and Robinson (2000) show in this context that the Whittle estimator is strongly consistent and asymptotically normal provided the process has finite 8th moment marginal distribution.

We focus on the GARCH(1,1) case when the 8th moment is infinite. This case corresponds to various real-life log-return series of financial data. We show that the Whittle estimator is consistent as long as the 4th moment is finite and inconsistent when the 4th moment is infinite. Moreover, in the finite 4th moment case rates of convergence of the Whittle estimator to the true parameter are the slower, the fatter the tail of the distribution.

These findings are in contrast to ARMA processes with iid innovations. Indeed, in the latter case it was shown by Mikosch et al. (1995) that the rate of convergence of the Whittle estimator to the true parameter is the faster, the fatter the tails of the innovations distribution. Thus the analogy between a squared GARCH process and an ARMA process is misleading insofar that one of the classical estimation techniques, Whittle estimation, does not yield the expected analogy of the asymptotic behavior of the estimators.     

An inventory model for a deteriorating item with displayed stock dependent demand under fuzzy inflation and time discounting over a random planning horizon

An inventory model for a deteriorating item (seasonal product) with linearly displayed stock dependent demand is developed in imprecise environment (involving both fuzzy and random parameters) under inflation and time value of money. It is assumed that time horizon, i.e., period of business is random and follows exponential distribution with a known mean. The resultant effect of inflation and time value of money is assumed as fuzzy in nature. The particular case, when resultant effect of inflation and time value is crisp in nature, is also analyzed. A genetic algorithm (GA) is developed with roulette wheel selection, arithmetic crossover, random mutation. For crisp inflation effect, the total expected profit for the planning horizon is maximized using the above GA to derive optimal inventory decision. On the other hand when inflationary effect is fuzzy then the above expected profit is fuzzy in nature too. Since optimization of fuzzy objective is not well defined, the optimistic/pessimistic return of the expected profit is obtained using possibility/necessity measure of fuzzy event. Fuzzy simulation process is proposed to determine this optimistic/pessimistic return. Finally a fuzzy simulation based GA is developed and is used to maximize the above optimistic/pessimistic return to get optimal decision. The models are illustrated with some numerical examples and some sensitivity analyses have been presented.     

GARCH模型在股票市场风险计量中的应用

本文以上证综指的日收益率为研究对象,运用GARCH模型簇分析上海股市日收益率波动的条件异方差性,计算每天的V aR值.实证研究表明,GARCH模型的V aR计算方法对我国股市风险的管理有较好的效果.     

On dynamics of volatilities in nonstationary GARCH models

This paper precisely characterizes asymptotic behaviors of the volatilities in nonstationary GARCH(1, 1) models. After suitable renormalization, it is shown that the volatility converges in distribution to a non-degenerate limit. This provides more insight into the dynamics of volatilities in nonstationary GARCH models.     

V-uniform ergodicity of a continuous time asymmetric power GARCH(1,1) model

A continuous time asymmetric power GARCH(1,1) model is presented and the V-uniform ergodicity and β-mixing property of the process with exponential decay rate are proved. The V-uniform ergodicity of the COGARCH(1,1) model is obtained as a special case.     

Principal Components in Time Series Forecast

Abstract

This article describes a time series forecast method based on the principal component analysis applied to the data matrix derived from the initial time series.     

GARCH(1,1)模型及其在汇率条件波动预测中的应用

检验人民币/日元汇率与波动的时间序列特征,证实存在简单单位根过程及条件异方差性。计算表明,其汇率变化率的ARMA及ARMA/GARCH组合模型的建模不成立,GARCH、EGARCH、IGARCH模型的建模效果接近,且GARCH(1,1)拟合效果最好。GARCH(1,1)模型的跨度为一年的样本外条件异方差预测,显示出该年末汇率的震荡,与实际情况一致。GARCH(1,1)是汇率数据建娱的首选模型。     

Cash demand forecasting in ATMs by clustering and neural networks

To improve ATMs’ cash demand forecasts, this paper advocates the prediction of cash demand for groups of ATMs with similar day-of-the week cash demand patterns. We first clustered ATM centers into ATM clusters having similar day-of-the week withdrawal patterns. To retrieve “day-of-the-week” withdrawal seasonality parameters (effect of a Monday, etc.) we built a time series model for each ATMs. For clustering, the succession of seven continuous daily withdrawal seasonality parameters of ATMs is discretized. Next, the similarity between the different ATMs’ discretized daily withdrawal seasonality sequence is measured by the Sequence Alignment Method (SAM). For each cluster of ATMs, four neural networks viz., general regression neural network (GRNN), multi layer feed forward neural network (MLFF), group method of data handling (GMDH) and wavelet neural network (WNN) are built to predict an ATM center’s cash demand. The proposed methodology is applied on the NN5 competition dataset. We observed that GRNN yielded the best result of 18.44% symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE), which is better than the result of Andrawis, Atiya, and El-Shishiny (2011). This is due to clustering followed by a forecasting phase. Further, the proposed approach yielded much smaller SMAPE values than the approach of direct prediction on the entire sample without clustering. From a managerial perspective, the clusterwise cash demand forecast helps the bank’s top management to design similar cash replenishment plans for all the ATMs in the same cluster. This cluster-level replenishment plans could result in saving huge operational costs for ATMs operating in a similar geographical region.     

Analysis of pseudo-periodic chronological series with irregularly time-spaced data in view to their prediction. I. Proposed problem

The problem originates from the necessity to predict luminosities of large-amplitude variable stars that are to be observed by the astronomical satellite HIPPARCOS. The data have a specific character: they are unequally time-spaced and can be missing during a long time in comparison to the pseudo-period. So the classical method of time-series analysis must be adapted and new methods are to be searched. In the following papers we present two solutions: a numerical one derived from a Fourier analysis and a symbolic one.     

Improved program planning with formal models? The case of high risk crop farming in Northeast Germany

In this paper we explore whether the incorporation of systematic time series analyses and mathematical optimization procedures in the practical planning process has the potential to improve production program decisions. The cases of four German cash crop farms are investigated over six planning periods. In order to avoid solutions that simply exceed the farmer’s risk tolerance, the apparently accepted variance of the observed program’s total gross margin is used as an upper bound in the optimization. For each of the 24 planning occasions, the formal model is used to generate optimized alternative programs. The total gross margins that could have been realized if the formally optimized programs had been implemented are then compared to those that were actually realized. We find that the farmers could have increased their total gross margins significantly if—instead of using simple routines and rules of thumb—they had used adequate methods of statistical analysis combined with the formal optimization model. Norbert Hirschauer thanks the German Research Foundation (DFG) for the opportunity to work on this paper during a research leave.     

Temperature prediction at critical points in district heating systems

Current methodologies for the optimal operation of district heating systems use model predictive control. Accurate forecasting of the water temperature at critical points is crucial for meeting constraints related to consumers while minimizing the production costs for the heat supplier. A new forecasting methodology based on conditional finite impulse response (cFIR) models is introduced, for which model coefficients are replaced by coefficient functions of the water flux at the supply point and of the time of day, allowing for nonlinear variations of the time delays. Appropriate estimation methods for both are described. Results are given for the test case of the Roskilde district heating system over a period of more than 6 years. The advantages of the proposed forecasting methodology in terms of a higher forecast accuracy, its use for simulation purposes, or alternatively for better understanding transfer functions of district heating systems, are clearly shown.