We examine machine learning and factor-based portfolio optimization. We find that factors based on autoencoder neural networks exhibit a weaker relationship with commonly used characteristic-sorted portfolios than popular dimensionality reduction techniques. Machine learning methods also lead to...

We survey recent methodological contributions in asset pricing using factor models and machine learning. We organize these results based on their primary objectives: estimating expected returns, factors, risk exposures, risk premia, and the stochastic discount factor, as well as model comparison...

In asset pricing, most studies focus on finding new factors such as macroeconomic factors or firm characteristics to explain risk premium. Investigating whether these factors are useful in forecasting stock returns remains active research in the field of finance and computer science. This paper...

We survey the nascent literature on machine learning in the study of financial markets. We highlight the best examples of what this line of research has to offer and recommend promising directions for future research. This survey is designed for both financial economists interested in grasping...

This paper investigates the forecasting performance for CDS spreads of both linear and nonlinear models by analysing the iTraxx Europe index during the financial crisis period which began in mid-2007. The statistical and economic significance of the models' forecasts are evaluated by employing...

Low-volatility investing is typically implemented by sorting stocks based on simple risk measures; for example, the empirical standard deviation of last year's daily returns. In contrast, we understand identifying next-month's ranking of volatilities as a forecasting problem aimed at the ex-post...

Using state-of-the-art recurrent neural network architectures, this study attempts to predict credit default swap risk premia for BR[I]CS countries as accurately as possible. In the time series setting, these recurrent neural networks are ELMAN, NARX, GRU, and LSTM RNNs, considering local and...