Multiscale Fama-French and VaR explanatory factor analysis: evidence to the French market

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to consider the utilities of using value at risk (VaR) as an explanatory factor of stock returns in addition to the Fama-French risk factors over different investment periods. In order to describe the relationships between factors and stock returns and to examine the explanatory power of the four factor model at different timescales, we exploit the properties of the multi-resolution analysis (MRA) based on maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT). The four factor model proposed by Turan G. Bali and Nusret Cakici illustrates well the cross-sectional returns while the timescale increases. The portfolio returns are more sensitive to the market risk and size risk. The portfolio risk effect, measured by the VaR, is handed-over in question because its weakness and the addressed criticism following the current financial crisis.