We formulate a distributionally robust optimization problem where the deviation of the alternative distribution is controlled by a φ-divergence penalty in the objective, and show that a large class of these problems are essentially equivalent to a mean-variance problem. We also show that while...

We derive sufficient conditions for non-emptyness of the efficient set for Stochastic Dominance Relations, commonly applied in Economics and Finance, over sets of distributions on the real line. We do so via the use of the concept of stochastic spanning and its characterization via a saddle type...

The combination of two or more portfolio rules is theoretically convex in return-risk space, which provides for a new class of portfolio rules that gives purpose to the Mean-Variance framework out-of-sample. The author investigates the performance loss from estimation risk between the...

We examine the problem of decision making using a probabilistic model when there is material uncertainty concerning the accuracy of the model coupled with limited information about it. Such conditions could hold, for example, for the user of a complex commercial model of natural catastrophe...

The problem of selecting an optimal set of investment stocks is of a huge interest for both individual and institutional investors. This paper compares the hybrid multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) approach to selecting the best stock to invest in, with the stock selection using modern...

We introduce the technique of worst case search to macro stress testing. Among the macroeconomic scenarios satisfying some plausibility constraint we determine the worst case scenario which causes the most harmful loss in loan portfolios. This method has three advantages over traditional macro...

Accurate estimation and optimal control of tail risk is important for building portfolios with desirable properties, especially when dealing with a large set of assets. In this work, we consider optimal asset allocations strategies based on the minimization of two asymmetric deviation measures,...

We investigate whether the returns of some industry portfolios predict the returns of other industry portfolios. We find a strong lead-lag structure which is statistically and economically significant. These findings suggest that information diffuses only gradually across industries. Moreover,...

Using sectorial indices of the Brazilian market, we compare the portfolio optimization approach known as risk parity with minimum variance and equally weighted approaches. We apply various estimators for the covariance matrix to each portfolio strategy, since portfolio variance is considered as...

We consider an investor faced with the utility maximization problem in which the risky asset price process has pure-jump dynamics affected by an unobservable continuous-time finite-state Markov chain, the intensity of which can also be controlled by actions of the investor. Using the classical...