Index tracking aims at replicating a given benchmark with a smaller number of its constituents. Different quantitative models can be set up to determine the optimal index replicating portfolio. In this paper, we propose an alternative based on imposing a constraint on the q-norm, 0 q 1, of the...

We investigate the performance of the German equity mutual fund industry over 20 years (monthly data 1990-2009) using the false discovery rate (FDR) to examine both model selection and performance measurement. When using the Fama-French three factor (3F) model (with no market timing) we find at...

None of the models that have been developed to determine the optimal strategic asset allocation (SAA) of stabilization sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) has received direct empirical validation, primarily because there is a lack of transparency regarding some of the key parameters that characterize...

Financial advisors commonly recommend that the investment horizon should be rather long in order to benefit from the "time diversification". In this case, in order to choose the optimal portfolio, it is necessary to estimate the risk and reward of several alternative portfolios over a long-run...

We propose a jump robust positive semidefinite rank-based estimator for the daily covariance matrix based on high-frequency intraday returns. It disentangles covariance estimation into variance and correlation components. This allows to estimate correlations over lower sampling frequencies, to...

We propose a quantile--based method to estimate the parameters (i.e. locations, dispersions, co--dispersions and the tail index) of an elliptical distribution, and a battery of tests for model adequacy. The method is suitable for vast dimensions since the estimators for the location vector and...

The Integrated Energy and Climate Protection Program of the German government includes the political target to double the share of combined heat and power generation (CHP) in Germany from currently about 12% to 25% in 2020. In order to reach this goal a new CHP law was enacted to improve the...

In recent years both equity and bond markets have been afflicted by high volatility. In order to build up a conservative portfolio several models may be used, such as minimum variance portfolio or equally weighted portfolio. In 2008/09 another way to deal with diversification came up, that is...

Faber's 'A Quantitative Approach to Tactical Asset Allocation' (2009) proposes the use of a very simple trading rule to improve the risk-adjusted returns across various asset classes. The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative and simple quantitative risk based portfolio management...