We show that unconditionally efficient returns do not achieve the maximum unconditional Sharpe ratio, neither display zero unconditional Jensen’s alphas, when returns are predictable. Next, we define a new type of efficient returns that is characterized by those unconditional properties. We...

This paper proposes instantaneous versions of the Sharpe ratio and Jensen’s alpha as performance measures for managed portfolios. Both are derived from optimal portfolio selection theory in a dynamic model. The instantaneous Sharpe ratio equals the discrete Sharpe ratio plus half of the...

Financial risk control has always been challenging and becomes now an even harder problem as joint extreme events occur more frequently. For decision makers and government regulators, it is therefore important to obtain accurate information on the interdependency of risk factors. Given a...

Although the general assumption is that daily and monthly returns data are normally distributed (Aparicio & Estrada, 2001), the correct statistical distribution of returns must first be established (Linden, 2001), as it constitutes one of the elementary building blocks that will ensure accurate...

The majority of risk adjusted performance measures (RAPM) currently in use – e.g., Treynor ratio, (?/?)) ratio, Omega index, RoVaR, ‘coherent’ preference criteria, etc. – are incompat- ible with any sensible utility function and would be best avoided. We argue instead for the assessment...

Generalizations of traditional preference criteria such as the Sharpe ratio, the information ratio and the Jensen alpha are obtained by maximizing a certain equivalent excess return (CER) under relevant investment conditions. They are increasing functions of CERs and therefore equivalent...

In this article, we analyse whether the class of adequately defined drawdown-based performance measures produces hedge fund rankings similar to the one that can be obtained using the Sharpe ratio. Supported by a series of robustness checks, we find that the choice of performance measure does not...

Generating a high positive excess return in a prospective period does not necessarily increase the empirical Sharpe ratio of an investment fund. Therefore, we derive a critical range in which prospective excess returns must lie in order to increase its empirical Sharpe ratio. We also give a...

In this paper we prove that partial-moments-based performance measures (e.g., Omega, Kappa, upside-potential ratio, Sortino–Satchell ratio, Farinelli–Tibiletti ratio), value-at-risk-based performance measures (e.g., VaR ratio, CVaR ratio, Rachev ratio, generalized Rachev ratio), and other...

In a recent article, Schuster and Auer (2012) show that fund managers with a certain positive performance need to be aware of the fact that too high prospective excess returns can lower the empirical Sharpe ratio of their funds. In this note, we investigate the empirical relevance of this...