We develop a Markov-switching GARCH model (MS-GARCH) wherein the conditional mean and variance switch in time from one GARCH process to another. The switching is governed by a hidden Markov chain. We provide sufficient conditions for geometric ergodicity and existence of moments of the process. Because of path dependence, maximum likelihood estimation is not feasible. By enlarging the parameter space to include the state variables, Bayesian estimation using a Gibbs sampling algorithm is feasible. We illustrate the model on SP500 daily returns.

a b s t r a c tThe paper investigates the asymptotic theory for a multivariate GARCH model in its general vector specification proposed by Bollerslev, Engle and Wooldridge (1988) [4], known as the VEC model. This model includes as important special cases the so-called BEKK model and many versions of factor GARCH models, which are often used in practice. We provide sufficient conditions for strict stationarity and geometric ergodicity. The strong consistency of the quasi-maximum likelihood estimator (QMLE) is proved under mild regularity conditions which allow the process to be integrated. In order to obtain asymptotic normality, the existence of sixth-order moments of the process is assumed.

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