Capital allocation for portfolios with non-linear risk aggregation

Existing risk capital allocation methods, such as the Euler rule, work under the explicit assumption that portfolios are formed as linear combinations of random loss/profit variables, with the firm being able to choose the portfolio weights. This assumption is unrealistic in an insurance context, where arbitrary scaling of risks is generally not possible. Here, we model risks as being partially generated by Lévy processes, capturing the non-linear aggregation of risk. The model leads to non-homogeneous fuzzy games, for which the Euler rule is not applicable. For such games, we seek capital allocations that are in the core, that is, do not provide incentives for splitting portfolios. We show that the Euler rule of an auxiliary linearised fuzzy game (non-uniquely) satisfies the core property and, thus, provides a plausible and easily implemented capital allocation. In contrast, the Aumann–Shapley allocation does not generally belong to the core. For the non-homogeneous fuzzy games studied, Tasche’s (1999) criterion of suitability for performance measurement is adapted and it is shown that the proposed allocation method gives appropriate signals for improving the portfolio underwriting profit.     

Importance sampling for integrated market and credit portfolio models

A sophisticated approach for computing the total economic capital needed for various stochastically dependent risk types is the bottom-up approach. In this approach, usually, market and credit risks of financial instruments are modeled simultaneously. As integrating market risk factors into standard credit portfolio models increases the computational burden of calculating risk measures, it is analyzed to which extent importance sampling techniques previously developed either for pure market portfolio models or for pure credit portfolio models can be successfully applied to integrated market and credit portfolio models. Specific problems which arise in this context are discussed. The effectiveness of these techniques is tested by numerical experiments for linear and non-linear portfolios.     

Data-Recursive Smoother Formulae for Partially Observed Discrete-Time Markov Chains

Abstract

We address a dynamic portfolio optimization problem where the expected utility from terminal wealth has to be maximized. The special feature of this paper is an additional constraint on the portfolio strategy modeling bounded shortfall risks, which are measured by value at risk or expected loss. Using a continuous-time model of a complete financial market and applying martingale methods, analytic expressions for the optimal terminal wealth and the optimal portfolio strategies are given. Finally, some numerical results are presented.     

Equal Risk Bounding is better than Risk Parity for portfolio selection

Risk Parity (RP), also called equally weighted risk contribution, is a recent approach to risk diversification for portfolio selection. RP is based on the principle that the fractions of the capital invested in each asset should be chosen so as to make the total risk contributions of all assets equal among them. We show here that the Risk Parity approach is theoretically dominated by an alternative similar approach that does not actually require equally weighted risk contribution of all assets but only an equal upper bound on all such risks. This alternative approach, called Equal Risk Bounding (ERB), requires the solution of a nonconvex quadratically constrained optimization problem. The ERB approach, while starting from different requirements, turns out to be strictly linked to the RP approach. Indeed, when short selling is allowed, we prove that an ERB portfolio is actually an RP portfolio with minimum variance. When short selling is not allowed, there is a unique RP portfolio and it contains all assets in the market. In this case, the ERB approach might lead to the RP portfolio or it might lead to portfolios with smaller variance that do not contain all assets, and where the risk contributions of each asset included in the portfolio is strictly smaller than in the RP portfolio. We define a new riskiness index for assets that allows to identify those assets that are more likely to be excluded from the ERB portfolio. With these tools we then provide an exact method for small size nonconvex ERB models and a very efficient and accurate heuristic for larger problems of this type. In the case of a common constant pairwise correlation among all assets, a closed form solution to the ERB model is obtained and used to perform a parametric analysis when varying the level of correlation. The practical advantages of the ERB approach over the RP strategy are illustrated with some numerical examples. Computational experience on real-world and on simulated data confirms accuracy and efficiency of our heuristic approach to the ERB model also in comparison with some state-of-the-art local and global optimization codes.     

基于动态调整的Copula-非线性分位数回归资产组合优化

为优化资产组合方案,考虑单资产分布的非对称性、异方差性、尖峰厚尾性等特征,资产之间的时变非线性相关性,建立了Copula-非线性分位数回归模型。本文的创新与特色,一是通过构建期望超额收益率与考虑动态损失厌恶效应的VaR比率函数,确定了目标函数的表达式,改变了使用超额收益率标准差度量风险,而实证研究中更关注资产的损失风险而非全部风险,未考虑投资者对于收益与损失非对称偏好的不足;二是通过建立基于支持向量机的非线性分位数回归模型,确定了边缘分布函数表达式,解决了普通模型无法处理非对称、非线性,依赖于分布假设的不足;三是通过构建混合Copula函数,确保能够有效捕捉金融市场中的尾部相关、非对称性,完善了刻画资产之间相关关系的模式;四是通过建立风险非线性叠加的资产总风险评价模型,确定了资产组合总风险的表达式,弥补了现有风险评价模型未考虑资产间的相关性的不足。实证结果表明,本文建立的模型预测性能高于其它模型,该模型有更高的VaR比率值,在单位风险下能够获得更高的资产组合效果。     

基于双因子CIR强度式定价的信用债券投资组合优化

信用风险和利率风险是相互关联影响的。资产组合优化不能将这两种风险单独考虑或简单的相加,应该进行整体的风险控制,不然会造成投资风险的低估。本文的主要工作：一是在强度式定价模型的框架下,分别利用CIR随机利率模型刻画利率风险因素“无风险利率”和信用风险因素“违约强度”的随机动态变化,衡量在两类风险共同影响下信用债券的市场价值,从而构建CRRA型投资效用函数。以CRRA型投资效用函数最大化作为目标函数,同时控制利率和信用两类风险。弥补了现有研究中仅单独考虑信用风险或利率风险、无法对两种风险进行整体控制的弊端。二是将无风险利率作为影响违约强度的一个因子,利用“无风险利率因子”和“纯信用因子”的双因子CIR模型拟合违约强度,考虑了市场利率变化对于债券违约强度的影响,反映两种风险的相关性。使得投资组合模型中既同时考虑了信用风险和利率风险、又考虑了两种风险的交互影响。避免在优化资产组合时忽略两种风险间相关性、可能造成风险低估的问题。     

A hierarchical copula-based world-wide valuation of sovereign risk

We propose a new model for the aggregation of risks that is very flexible and useful in high dimensional problems. We propose a copula-based model that is both hierarchical and hybrid (HYC for short), because: (i) the dependence structure is modeled as a hierarchical copula, (ii) it unifies the idea of the clusterized homogeneous copula-based approach (CHC for short) and its limiting version (LHC for short) proposed in Bernardi and Romagnoli (2012, 2013). Based on this, we compute the loss function of a world-wide sovereign debt portfolio which accounts for a systemic dependence of all countries, in line with a global valuation of financial risks. Our approach enables us to take into account the non-exchangeable behavior of a sovereign debts’ portfolio clustered into several classes with homogeneous risk and to recover a possible risks’ hierarchy. A comparison between the HYC loss surface and those computed through a pure limiting approach, which is commonly used in high dimensional problems, is presented and the impact of the concentration and the granularity errors is appreciated. Finally the impact of an enlargement of the dependence structure is discussed, in the contest of a geographical area sub-portfolios analysis now relevant to determine the risk contributions of subgroups under the presence of a wider dependence structure. This argument is presented in relation to the evaluation of the insurance premium and the collateral related to the designed project of an euro-insurance-bond.     

Redistribution of longevity risk: The effect of heterogeneous mortality beliefs

Existing literature regarding the natural hedge potential that arises from combining different longevity-linked liabilities typically does not address the question how changes in the liability mix can be obtained. We consider firms who aim to exploit the benefits of natural hedge potential by redistributing their risks, and characterize the risk redistributions that will arise when the parties bargain for a redistribution of risk that weakly benefits them all. We analyze the effects of heterogeneity in the beliefs regarding the probability distribution of future mortality rates on the properties of these risk redistributions, and provide a numerical illustration for a case where an insurer with a portfolio of term assurance contracts and a pension fund with a portfolio of life annuities redistribute their risks.     

The practice of Delta–Gamma VaR: Implementing the quadratic portfolio model

This paper intends to critically evaluate state-of-the-art methodologies for calculating the value-at-risk (VaR) of non-linear portfolios from the point of view of computational accuracy and efficiency. We focus on the quadratic portfolio model, also known as “Delta–Gamma”, and, as a working assumption, we model risk factor returns as multi-normal random variables. We present the main approaches to Delta–Gamma VaR weighing their merits and accuracy from an implementation-oriented standpoint. One of our main conclusions is that the Delta–Gamma-Normal VaR may be less accurate than even Delta VaR. On the other hand, we show that methods that essentially take into account the non-linearity (hence gammas and third or higher moments) of the portfolio values may present significant advantages over full Monte Carlo revaluations. The role of non-diagonal terms in the Gamma matrix as well as the sensitivity to correlation is considered both for accuracy and computational effort. We also qualitatively examine the robustness of Delta–Gamma methodologies by considering a highly non-quadratic portfolio value function.     

Risk measurement in the presence of background risk

A distortion-type risk measure is constructed, which evaluates the risk of any uncertain position in the context of a portfolio that contains that position and a fixed background risk. The risk measure can also be used to assess the performance of individual risks within a portfolio, allowing for the portfolio’s re-balancing, an area where standard capital allocation methods fail. It is shown that the properties of the risk measure depart from those of coherent distortion measures. In particular, it is shown that the presence of background risk makes risk measurement sensitive to the scale and aggregation of risk. The case of risks following elliptical distributions is examined in more detail and precise characterisations of the risk measure’s aggregation properties are obtained.     

Risk-adjusted probability measures in portfolio optimization with coherent measures of risk

We consider the problem of optimizing a portfolio of n assets, whose returns are described by a joint discrete distribution. We formulate the mean–risk model, using as risk functionals the semideviation, deviation from quantile, and spectral risk measures. Using the modern theory of measures of risk, we derive an equivalent representation of the portfolio problem as a zero-sum matrix game, and we provide ways to solve it by convex optimization techniques. In this way, we reconstruct new probability measures which constitute part of the saddle point of the game. These risk-adjusted measures always exist, irrespective of the completeness of the market. We provide an illustrative example, in which we derive these measures in a universe of 200 assets and we use them to evaluate the market portfolio and optimal risk-averse portfolios.     

Efficient option risk measurement with reduced model risk

Options require risk measurement that is also computationally efficient as it is important to derivatives risk management. There are currently few methods that are specifically adapted for efficient option risk measurement. Moreover, current methods rely on series approximations and incur significant model risks, which inhibit their applicability for risk management.In this paper we propose a new approach to computationally efficient option risk measurement, using the idea of a replicating portfolio and coherent risk measurement. We find our approach to option risk measurement provides fast computation by practically eliminating nonlinear computational operations. We reduce model risk by eliminating calibration and implementation risks by using mostly observable data, we remove internal model risk for complex option portfolios by not admitting arbitrage opportunities, we are also able to incorporate liquidity or model misspecification risks. Additionally, our method enables tractable and convex optimisation of portfolios containing multiple options. We conduct numerical experiments to test our new approach and they validate it over a range of option pricing parameters.     

考虑保守卖空与财务困境的背景风险投资组合模型

如何合理地考虑投资者所面临的背景风险及现实市场限制来进行有效地投资决策是人们所广泛关注的重要实际管理决策问题。本文研究投资者同时面临加性和乘性两类背景风险的前提下具有保守卖空与财务困境的投资组合选择问题。假定投资者寻求使得投资收益最大、投资风险最小及证券主体财务困境最小的最优投资组合策略,进而提出考虑保守卖空与财务困境的背景风险投资组合模型。然后,利用具有精英策略的非支配排序遗传算法对模型进行求解。最后,通过实例来阐述模型的实用性。研究结果表明：考虑保守卖空能为投资者提供更大的收益;两类背景风险的变化均导致有效前沿面的变化。     

A general model of insurance and investment risk diversification

This article presents a model of insurance and investment risk diversification. An in-depth analysis of the mathematical formulation of the risk is presented. In this regard, we introduce a new concept called the substitution principle to formulate the model rigorously. We show that, if the investment risks are normally non-linear, the insurance risks are linear in nature. This proves that the well-known diversification principle has to be viewed differently in finance and in insurance.     

Dynamic utility maximization with bounded shortfall risks

We address the dynamic portfolio optimization problem where the expected utility from terminal wealth has to be maximized. The special feature of this paper is an additional constraint on the portfolio strategy modeling bounded shortfall risks. We consider the risk, that the terminal wealth of the portfolio falls short of a certain benchmark. This benchmark is chosen to be proportional to the stock price. The risk is measured by the Expected Utility Loss. Using a continuous-time model of a complete financial market and applying martingale methods, analytic expressions for the optimal terminal wealth and the optimal portfolio strategies are given. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Univariate and multivariate measures of risk aversion and risk premiums

This paper develops univariate and multivariate measures of risk aversion for correlated risks. We derive Rubinstein's measures of risk aversion from the risk premiums with correlated random initial wealth and risk. It is shown that these measures are not only consistent with those for uncorrelated or independent risks, but also have the corresponding local properties of the Arrow-Pratt measures of risk aversion. Thus Rubinstein's measures of risk aversion are the appropriate extension of the Arrow-Pratt measures of risk aversion in the univariate case. We also derive a risk aversion matrix from the risk premiums with correlated initial wealth and risk vectors. This matrix measure is the multivariate version of Rubinstein's measures and is also the generalization of Duncan's results for non-random initial wealth. The univariate and multivariate measures of risk aversion developed in this paper are applied to portfolio theory in Li and Ziemba [15].This research was partially supported by the National Research Council of Canada.     

Tail behaviour of credit loss distributions for general latent factor models

Using a limiting approach to portfolio credit risk, we obtain analytic expressions for the tail behavior of credit losses. To capture the co‐movements in defaults over time, we assume that defaults are triggered by a general, possibly non‐linear, factor model involving both systematic and idiosyncratic risk factors. The model encompasses default mechanisms in popular models of portfolio credit risk, such as CreditMetrics and CreditRisk⁺. We show how the tail characteristics of portfolio credit losses depend directly upon the factor model's functional form and the tail properties of the model's risk factors. In many cases the credit loss distribution has a polynomial (rather than exponential) tail. This feature is robust to changes in tail characteristics of the underlying risk factors. Finally, we show that the interaction between portfolio quality and credit loss tail behavior is strikingly different between the CreditMetrics and CreditRisk⁺ approach to modeling portfolio credit risk.     

A limit distribution of credit portfolio losses with low default probabilities

This paper employs a multivariate extreme value theory (EVT) approach to study the limit distribution of the loss of a general credit portfolio with low default probabilities. A latent variable model is employed to quantify the credit portfolio loss, where both heavy tails and tail dependence of the latent variables are realized via a multivariate regular variation (MRV) structure. An approximation formula to implement our main result numerically is obtained. Intensive simulation experiments are conducted, showing that this approximation formula is accurate for relatively small default probabilities, and that our approach is superior to a copula-based approach in reducing model risk.     

投资组合风险的分散化研究

风险是金融投资领域的研究热点问题之下一,投资组合是降低投资风险的有效方法之一。人们在做出投资决策时总是追求在一定收益率下风险最小。本文论述了投资组合收益和风险的数学统计方法,阐明风险可分为系统风险和非系统风险,后者可以通过投资组合分散化。本文还探讨了证券相关性和组合风险之间的关系。最后作了实证分析。     

The optimal portfolio problem with coherent risk measure constraints

One of the basic problems of applied finance is the optimal selection of stocks, with the aim of maximizing future returns and constraining risks by an appropriate measure. Here, the problem is formulated by finding the portfolio that maximizes the expected return, with risks constrained by the worst conditional expectation. This model is a straightforward extension of the classic Markovitz mean–variance approach, where the original risk measure, variance, is replaced by the worst conditional expectation.The worst conditional expectation with a threshold α of a risk X, in brief WCE_α(X), is a function that belongs to the class of coherent risk measures. These are measures that satisfy a set of properties, such as subadditivity and monotonicity, that are introduced to prevent some of the drawbacks that affect some other common measures.This paper shows that the optimal portfolio selection problem can be formulated as a linear programming instance, but with an exponential number of constraints. It can be solved efficiently by an appropriate generation constraint subroutine, so that only a small number of inequalities are actually needed.This method is applied to the optimal selection of stocks in the Italian financial market and some computational results suggest that the optimal portfolios are better than the market index.