Fast scenario-based optimal control for stochastic portfolio optimization with application to a large-scale portfolio

Weibel, Marc Gerald

Fast scenario-based optimal control for stochastic portfolio optimization with application to a large-scale portfolio

Weibel, Marc Gerald

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2019

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Weibel, Marc Gerald
dc.date.accessioned	2019-09-18T03:13:36Z
dc.date.available	2019-09-18T03:13:36Z
dc.date.issued	2019
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135975
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science.	en_AU
dc.description.abstract	This thesis contributes towards the development of a fast optimal control algorithm, relying on the Alternating-Direction of Multipliers (ADMM), for solving large-scale linear convex multi-period optimization problems as well as the design of investment strategies aiming at stabilizing portfolio performance over time. The first part of the thesis focuses on a statistical risk-budgeting method to improve naïve diversification strategies. We extend the so-called minimum-torsion approach and use advanced modern techniques for covariance estimation and shrinkage purposes. We propose a novel factor investing approach, which dynamically identifies statistical risk factors over time. We device dynamic investment strategies aiming at diversifying idiosyncratic risk left unexplained by the factors. We develop in the second part of this thesis a fast algorithm for solving scenario-based model predictive control (MPC) arising in multi-period portfolio optimization problems efficiently. We derive an alteration of the termination criterion, using the probabilities assigned to the scenarios and provide a convergence analysis. We show that the proposed criterion outperforms the standard approach and highlight our results with a numerical comparison with a state-of-the-art algorithm. We also enhance the standard two-set splitting algorithm of the ADMM method, by including inequality constraints through a so-called embedded splitting, without recourse to an additional (costly) splitting set. We present a real-world large-scale multi-period portfolio application, where we combine the different concepts derived in this thesis. We propose an approach to generate scenarios relying on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and solve the constrained multi-period MPC problem with the ADMM algorithm developed. We also suggest an innovative concept to steer the risk-aversion used in the objective function dynamically, building on the probability assigned to each scenario. We back-test the strategy and show that the results obtained do provide the expected risk-adjusted outperformance and stability, without deviating significantly from the strategic asset allocation.	en_AU
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_AU	en_AU
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/135975/2/02whole.pdf
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/ppc
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Fast scenario-based optimal control for stochastic portfolio optimization with application to a large-scale portfolio	en_AU
dc.type	Thesis	en_AU
utslib.copyright.status	open_access

Abstract:

This thesis contributes towards the development of a fast optimal control algorithm, relying on the Alternating-Direction of Multipliers (ADMM), for solving large-scale linear convex multi-period optimization problems as well as the design of investment strategies aiming at stabilizing portfolio performance over time. The first part of the thesis focuses on a statistical risk-budgeting method to improve naïve diversification strategies. We extend the so-called minimum-torsion approach and use advanced modern techniques for covariance estimation and shrinkage purposes. We propose a novel factor investing approach, which dynamically identifies statistical risk factors over time. We device dynamic investment strategies aiming at diversifying idiosyncratic risk left unexplained by the factors. We develop in the second part of this thesis a fast algorithm for solving scenario-based model predictive control (MPC) arising in multi-period portfolio optimization problems efficiently. We derive an alteration of the termination criterion, using the probabilities assigned to the scenarios and provide a convergence analysis. We show that the proposed criterion outperforms the standard approach and highlight our results with a numerical comparison with a state-of-the-art algorithm. We also enhance the standard two-set splitting algorithm of the ADMM method, by including inequality constraints through a so-called embedded splitting, without recourse to an additional (costly) splitting set. We present a real-world large-scale multi-period portfolio application, where we combine the different concepts derived in this thesis. We propose an approach to generate scenarios relying on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and solve the constrained multi-period MPC problem with the ADMM algorithm developed. We also suggest an innovative concept to steer the risk-aversion used in the objective function dynamically, building on the probability assigned to each scenario. We back-test the strategy and show that the results obtained do provide the expected risk-adjusted outperformance and stability, without deviating significantly from the strategic asset allocation.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135975