Estimating high-frequency foreign exchange rate volatility with nonparametric ARCH models

High-frequency foreign exchange rate (HFFX) series are analyzed on an operational time scale using models of the ARCH class. Comparison of the estimated conditional variances focuses on the asymmetry and persistence issue. Estimation results for parametric models confirm standard results for HFFX series, namely high persistence and no significance of the asymmetry coefficient in an EGARCH model. To find out whether these results are robust against alternative specifications, nonparametric models are estimated. Local linear estimation techniques are applied to a nonparametric ARCH model of order one (CHARN). The results show significant asymmetry of the volatility function. To allow for both flexibility and persistence, a higher-order multiplicative model is fitted. The results show important asymmetries in volatility. In contrast to the EGARCH specification, the news impact curves have different shapes for different lags and tend to increase slower at the boundaries.     

The Effects of Structural Breaks in ARCH and GARCH Parameters on Persistence of GARCH Models

We show that persistence of conditional volatility in large samples could be exaggerated by the existence of structural breaks in the ARCH and GARCH parameters. Our results suggest that extreme persistence frequently observed in index volatility does not necessarily indicate the same level of persistence over the sample period.     

Asymptotic properties of maximum quasi-likelihood estimator in quasi-likelihood nonlinear models with misspecified variance function

The quasi-likelihood function proposed by Wedderburn [Quasi-likelihood functions, generalized linear models, and the Gauss–Newton method. Biometrika. 1974;61:439–447] broadened the application scope of generalized linear models (GLM) by specifying the mean and variance function instead of the entire distribution. However, in many situations, complete specification of variance function in the quasi-likelihood approach may not be realistic. Following Fahrmeir's [Maximum likelihood estimation in misspecified generalized linear models. Statistics. 1990;21:487–502] treating with misspecified GLM, we define a quasi-likelihood nonlinear models (QLNM) with misspecified variance function by replacing the unknown variance function with a known function. In this paper, we propose some mild regularity conditions, under which the existence and the asymptotic normality of the maximum quasi-likelihood estimator (MQLE) are obtained in QLNM with misspecified variance function. We suggest computing MQLE of unknown parameter in QLNM with misspecified variance function by the Gauss–Newton iteration procedure and show it to work well in a simulation study.     

Parameter Estimation Robust to Low-Frequency Contamination

We provide methods to robustly estimate the parameters of stationary ergodic short-memory time series models in the potential presence of additive low-frequency contamination. The types of contamination covered include level shifts (changes in mean) and monotone or smooth time trends, both of which have been shown to bias parameter estimates toward regions of persistence in a variety of contexts. The estimators presented here minimize trimmed frequency domain quasi-maximum likelihood (FDQML) objective functions without requiring specification of the low-frequency contaminating component. When proper sample size-dependent trimmings are used, the FDQML estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal, asymptotically eliminating the presence of any spurious persistence. These asymptotic results also hold in the absence of additive low-frequency contamination, enabling the practitioner to robustly estimate model parameters without prior knowledge of whether contamination is present. Popular time series models that fit into the framework of this article include autoregressive moving average (ARMA), stochastic volatility, generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH), and autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) models. We explore the finite sample properties of the trimmed FDQML estimators of the parameters of some of these models, providing practical guidance on trimming choice. Empirical estimation results suggest that a large portion of the apparent persistence in certain volatility time series may indeed be spurious. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.     

A Stochastic Volatility Model With Markov Switching

This article presents a new way of modeling time-varying volatility. We generalize the usual stochastic volatility models to encompass regime-switching properties. The unobserved state variables are governed by a first-order Markov process. Bayesian estimators are constructed by Gibbs sampling. High-, medium- and low-volatility states are identified for the Standard and Poor's 500 weekly return data. Persistence in volatility is explained by the persistence in the low- and the medium-volatility states. The high-volatility regime is able to capture the 1987 crash and overlap considerably with four U.S. economic recession periods.     

Optimal lag-length choice in stable and unstable VAR models under situations of homoscedasticity and ARCH

The performance of different information criteria – namely Akaike, corrected Akaike (AICC), Schwarz–Bayesian (SBC), and Hannan–Quinn – is investigated so as to choose the optimal lag length in stable and unstable vector autoregressive (VAR) models both when autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) is present and when it is not. The investigation covers both large and small sample sizes. The Monte Carlo simulation results show that SBC has relatively better performance in lag-choice accuracy in many situations. It is also generally the least sensitive to ARCH regardless of stability or instability of the VAR model, especially in large sample sizes. These appealing properties of SBC make it the optimal criterion for choosing lag length in many situations, especially in the case of financial data, which are usually characterized by occasional periods of high volatility. SBC also has the best forecasting abilities in the majority of situations in which we vary sample size, stability, variance structure (ARCH or not), and forecast horizon (one period or five). frequently, AICC also has good lag-choosing and forecasting properties. However, when ARCH is present, the five-period forecast performance of all criteria in all situations worsens.     

上证指数收益率的特征及其波动性分析

股票价格的频繁波动是股票市场最明显的特征之一。ARCH类模型可以很好地预测金融资产收益率的方差。通过对上证指数的统计分析表明,上证指数的收益率分布表现出非正态性,并存在自回归条件异方差的特征。利用ARCH类模型对上证指数的波动进行了拟合,结果表明GARCH(1,1)模型对上证指数波动具有较好的拟合效果。     

Testing for intercept‐scale switch in linear autoregression

Autoregressive models with switching regime are a frequently used class of nonlinear time series models, which are popular in finance, engineering, and other fields. We consider linear switching autoregressions in which the intercept and variance possibly switch simultaneously, while the autoregressive parameters are structural and hence the same in all states, and we propose quasi‐likelihood‐based tests for a regime switch in this class of models. Our motivation is from financial time series, where one expects states with high volatility and low mean together with states with low volatility and higher mean. We investigate the performance of our tests in a simulation study, and give an application to a series of IBM monthly stock returns. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 40: 427–446; 2012 © 2012 Statistical Society of Canada     

The Time-Varying-Parameter Model for Modeling Changing Conditional Variance: The Case of the Lucas Hypothesis

The main econometric issue in testing the Lucas (1973) hypothesis in a time series context is estimation of the forecast-error variance conditional on past information. The conditional variance may vary through time as monetary policy evolves and agents are obliged to infer its present state. Under the assumption that a monetary policy regime is continuously changing, a time-varying-parameter model is proposed for the monetary-growth function. Based on Kalman-filtering estimation of recursive forecast errors and their conditional variances, the Lucas hypothesis is tested for the U.S. economy (1964:1–1985:4) using monetary growth as aggregate demand variable. The Lucas hypothesis is rejected in favor of Friedman's (1977) hypothesis—the conditional variance of monetary growth affects real output directly, not through the coefficients on the forecast-error term in the Lucas-type output equation.     

Indirect estimation of randomized generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic models

The class of generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (GARCH) models can be used to describe the volatility with less parameters than autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (ARCH)-type models, their distributions are heavy-tailed, with time-dependent conditional variance, and are able to model clustering of volatility. Despite all these facts, the way that GARCH models are built imposes limits on the heaviness of the tails of their unconditional distribution. The class of randomized generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (R-GARCH) models includes the ARCH and GARCH models allowing the use of stable innovations. Estimation methods and empirical analysis of R-GARCH models are the focus of this work. We present the indirect inference method to estimate the R-GARCH models, some simulations and an empirical application.     

Generalized value at risk forecasting

Abstract

In this paper, using estimating function approach, a new optimal volatility estimator is introduced and based on the recursive form of the estimator a data-driven generalized EWMA model for value at risk (VaR) forecast is proposed. An appropriate data-driven model for volatility is identified by the relationship between absolute deviation and standard deviation for symmetric distributions with finite variance. It is shown that the asymptotic variance of the proposed volatility estimator is smaller than that of conventional estimators and is more appropriate for financial data with larger kurtosis. For IBM, Microsoft, Apple stocks and SP 500 index the proposed method is used to identify the model, estimate the volatility, and obtain minimum mean square error(MMSE) forecasts of VaR.     

经济预警指数、国房景气指数与CPI指数波动溢出实证分析——基于三元VAR-GARCH-BEKK模型

建立三元VAR-GARCH-BEKK模型对中国经济预警指数、国房景气指数和CPI指数间的ARCH型和GARCH型波动溢出进行了分析,发现经济预警指数和国房景气指数当期波动均受到了自身滞后残差平方与滞后波动的显著影响,但CPI指数波动不存在ARCH和GARCH效应。CPI指数对经济预警指数和国房景气指数有显著的波动溢出作用,经济预警指数对国房景气指数存在波动溢出作用。因此,国家制定宏观经济政策时应避免分割控制模式,积极建立动态制度框架和信息沟通机制以抵御风险。     

Asymptotic Theory for the QMLE in GARCH-X Models With Stationary and Nonstationary Covariates

This article investigates the asymptotic properties of the Gaussian quasi-maximum-likelihood estimators (QMLE’s) of the GARCH model augmented by including an additional explanatory variable—the so-called GARCH-X model. The additional covariate is allowed to exhibit any degree of persistence as captured by its long-memory parameter d_x; in particular, we allow for both stationary and nonstationary covariates. We show that the QMLE’s of the parameters entering the volatility equation are consistent and mixed-normally distributed in large samples. The convergence rates and limiting distributions of the QMLE’s depend on whether the regressor is stationary or not. However, standard inferential tools for the parameters are robust to the level of persistence of the regressor with t-statistics following standard Normal distributions in large sample irrespective of whether the regressor is stationary or not. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.     

Markov Switching in GARCH Processes and Mean-Reverting Stock-Market Volatility

This article introduces four models of conditional heteroscedasticity that contain Markov-switching parameters to examine their multiperiod stock-market volatility forecasts as predictions of options-implied volatilities. The volatility model that best predicts the behavior of the options-implied volatilities allows the Student-t degrees-of-freedom parameter to switch such that the conditional variance and kurtosis are subject to discrete shifts. The half-life of the most leptokurtic state is estimated to be a week, so expected market volatility reverts to near-normal levels fairly quickly following a spike.     

Kernel estimates of the mean and the volatility functions in a nonlinear autoregressive model with ARCH errors

In this paper, we deal with the nonparametric kernel estimation of the regression and volatility functions pertaining to nonlinear autoregressive model with ARCH errors. Under stationarity and ergodicity, we establish the strong uniform consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimators. Our results hold without any mixing condition and do not require the existence of marginal densities. Furthermore, rates of convergence are obtained.     

Adaptive estimation of vector autoregressive models with time-varying variance: Application to testing linear causality in mean

Linear vector autoregressive (VAR) models where the innovations could be unconditionally heteroscedastic are considered. The volatility structure is deterministic and quite general, including breaks or trending variances as special cases. In this framework we propose ordinary least squares (OLS), generalized least squares (GLS) and adaptive least squares (ALS) procedures. The GLS estimator requires the knowledge of the time-varying variance structure while in the ALS approach the unknown variance is estimated by kernel smoothing with the outer product of the OLS residual vectors. Different bandwidths for the different cells of the time-varying variance matrix are also allowed. We derive the asymptotic distribution of the proposed estimators for the VAR model coefficients and compare their properties. In particular we show that the ALS estimator is asymptotically equivalent to the infeasible GLS estimator. This asymptotic equivalence is obtained uniformly with respect to the bandwidth(s) in a given range and hence justifies data-driven bandwidth rules. Using these results we build Wald tests for the linear Granger causality in mean which are adapted to VAR processes driven by errors with a nonstationary volatility. It is also shown that the commonly used standard Wald test for the linear Granger causality in mean is potentially unreliable in our framework (incorrect level and lower asymptotic power). Monte Carlo experiments illustrate the use of the different estimation approaches for the analysis of VAR models with time-varying variance innovations.     

A Comparison of Time-Varying Parameter and Multiprocess Mixture Models in the Case of Money-Supply Announcements

This study compares the performance of a recently proposed multiprocess mixture model and a random-walk time-varying parameter (TVP) model, using the interest rate–weekly money relationship for illustrative purposes. For the case of this relationship, which is subject to regime shifts and outliers, the mixture model performs well and the latter model performs poorly. This finding is of general interest, since investigators often adopt random-walk TVP models to accommodate potential regime shifts in regression relationships. The TVP estimation procedure is unlikely to find abrupt shifts, since the estimate of parameter variance is based on the entire data sample. In the face of rapid discontinuous shifts in the parameters, this variance estimate is unrepresentative of the variability during periods of abrupt shift or transient observations.     

Non-stationary quasi-likelihood and asymptotic optimality

This article is concerned with non-stationary time series which does not require the full knowledge of the likelihood function. Consequently, a quasi-likelihood is employed for estimating parameters instead of the maximum (exact) likelihood. For stationary cases, Wefelmeyer (1996) and Hwang and Basawa (2011a,b), among others, discussed the issue of asymptotic optimality of the quasi-likelihood within a restricted class of estimators. For non-stationary cases, however, the asymptotic optimality property of the quasi-likelihood has not yet been adequately addressed in the literature. This article presents the asymptotic optimal property of the non-stationary quasi-likelihood within certain estimating functions. We use a random norm instead of a constant norm to get limit distributions of estimates. To illustrate main results, the non-stationary ARCH model, branching Markov process, and non-stationary random-coefficient AR process are discussed.     

Identifying Bull and Bear Markets in Stock Returns

This article uses a Markov-switching model that incorporates duration dependence to capture nonlinear structure in both the conditional mean and the conditional variance of stock returns. The model sorts returns into a high-return stable state and a low-return volatile state. We label these as bull and bear markets, respectively. The filter identifies all major stock-market downturns in over 160 years of monthly data. Bull markets have a declining hazard functions although the best market gains come at the start of a bull market. Volatility increases with duration in bear markets. Allowing volatility to vary with duration captures volatility clustering.     

因子模型门槛效应的LM和Wald检验及其统计性质研究

门槛因子模型可以有效地刻画高维度时间序列的共变特征和区制转换行为,具有良好的可解释性和预测能力。针对因子载荷矩阵存在的门槛效应,本文提出了拉格朗日乘子和沃尔德检验方法,并给出了渐近分布,相关结果表明以上检验统计量具有良好的大样本性质和有限样本表现。在实证部分,以我国股市的行业指数作为研究对象,通过构建门槛因子模型来刻画我国股票市场波动的共变性特征和非对称效应。实证结果表明基于门槛因子模型可以很好地刻画中国股市行业收益率波动的共变特征和区制转换行为。