This Working Paper is published under the auspices of the Department of Applied Mathematics of the Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not those of the Department. The Working Paper series is designed to divulge preliminary or incomplete work, circulated to favour discussion and comments. Citation of this paper should consider its provisional nature.
We study multistage tracking error problems. Different tracking error measures, commonly used in static models, are discussed as well as some problems which arise when we move from static to dynamic models. We are interested in dynamically replicating a benchmark using only a small subset of assets, considering transaction costs due to rebalancing and introducing a liquidity component in the portfolio. We formulate and solve a multistage tracking error model in a stochastic programming framework. We numerically test our model by dynamically replicating the MSCI Euro index. We consider an increasing number of scenarios and assets and show the superior performance of the dynamically optimized tracking portfolio over static strategies
The recent crisis made it evident that replicating the performance of a benchmark is not a sufficient goal to meet the expectations of usually risk-averse investors. The manager should also consider that the investors are seeking downside protection when the benchmark performs poorly and thus they should integrate a form of downside risk control. We propose a multiperiod double tracking error portfolio model which combines these two goals and provides enough flexibility. In particular, the control of the downside risk is carried out through the presence of a floor benchmark with respect to which we can accept different levels of shortfall. The choice of a proper measure for downside risk leads to different problem formulations and investment strategies which can reflect different attitudes towards risk. The proposed model is tested through a set of out-of-sample rolling simulations in different market conditions
Volatility-based and volatility targeting approaches have become popular among equity fund managers after the introduction in 1993 of the VIX, the implied volatility index on the S&P500 at the Chicago Board of Exchange (CBOE), followed, in 2004, by futures and option contracts on the VIX: since then we have assisted to an increasing interest in risk control strategies based on market signals. In January 2000 also the FTSE implied volatility index (FTSEIVI) was introduced at the London Stock Exchange. As a result, specifically in the US, portfolio strategies based on combinations of market indices and derivatives have been proposed by Stock Exchanges and investment banks: one such example is the S&P500 protective put index (PPUT). Early in 2016, relevant to the definition of optimal bond-equity strategies, CBOE launched an Index called TYVIX/VIX featuring an investment rotation strategy based jointly on signals coming from the VIX and the 10-year Treasury Yield implied volatility (TYVIX). All these are rule-based portfolio strategies in which no optimization methods are involved. While rather effective in reducing the downside risk, those index-based portfolio approaches do not allow an optimal risk-reward trade-off and may not be sufficient to control financial risk originated by extreme market drops. To overcome these limits we propose an optimization-based approach to portfolio management jointly focusing on volatility and tail risk controls and able to accommodate effectively the return payoffs associated with option strategies, whose cost as market volatility increases may become excessive. The model is based on a mean absolute deviation formulation and tested in the US equity market over the 2000-2016 period and with a focus on three periods of high volatility, in 2000, 2001 and 2008. The results confirm that optimal volatility controls produce better risk-adjusted returns if compared with rule-based approaches. Moreover the portfolio return distribution is dynamically shaped depending on the adopted risk management approach.
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