Mixed-asset Portfolio Research Articles

The strategic importance of Australian farmland as a property sector for institutional investors

PurposeFarmland is an important property sector that has attracted the attention of institutional investors globally in recent years. This paper examines the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of Australian farmland in a portfolio over the eight-year period of Q2:2015–Q2:2023, highlighting the unique property management dimensions to this property sector for its effective role in an institutional investor's property portfolio.Design/methodology/approachUsing the quarterly ANREV Australian farmland index over Q2:2015–Q2:2023, the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification potential of Australian farmland is assessed. Constrained mixed-asset portfolios are used to assess the potential added-value role of Australian farmland in a mixed-asset portfolio. Analyses are also done for the farmland sub-sectors of annual farmland and permanent farmland.FindingsAustralian farmland is seen to show strong risk-adjusted performance but at a much higher risk level than that seen for direct property. Diversification benefits from Australian farmland are also evident, with an important role by Australian farmland seen in the mixed-asset portfolio. Specific farmland property management strategies are identified for the effective inclusion of farmland in an institutional investor's property portfolio, including the potential benefits towards net zero carbon strategies.Originality/valueThis is the first research that provides an independent empirical examination of the strategic importance of Australian farmland property for institutional investors using the institutional investment-grade ANREV Australian farmland database, from both an investment and environmental perspective. The unique property management implications for Australian farmland property are also highlighted, including the potential role of Australian farmland in net zero carbon strategies by institutional investors.

The performance of renewable energy infrastructure

PurposeRenewable energy infrastructure is an important asset class in the context of reducing global carbon emissions going forward. This includes solar power, wind farms, hydro, battery storage and hydrogen. This paper examines the risk-adjusted performance and diversification benefits of listed renewable energy infrastructure globally over Q1:2009–Q4:2022 to examine the role of renewable energy infrastructure in a global infrastructure portfolio and in a global mixed-asset portfolio. The performance of renewable energy infrastructure is compared with the other major infrastructure sectors and other major asset classes. The strategic investment implications for institutional investors and renewable energy infrastructure in their portfolios going forward are also highlighted. This includes identifying effective pathways for renewable energy infrastructure exposure by institutional investors.Design/methodology/approachUsing quarterly total returns, the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of global listed renewable energy infrastructure over Q1:2009–Q4:2022 is assessed. Asset allocation diagrams are used to assess the role of renewable energy infrastructure in a global infrastructure portfolio and in a global mixed-asset portfolio.FindingsListed renewable energy infrastructure was seen to underperform the other infrastructure sectors and other major asset classes over 2009–2022. While delivering portfolio diversification benefits, no renewable energy infrastructure was seen in the optimal infrastructure portfolio or mixed-asset portfolio. More impressive performance characteristics were seen by nonlisted infrastructure funds over this period. Practical reasons for these results are provided as well as effective pathways going forward are identified for the fuller inclusion of renewable energy infrastructure in institutional investor portfolios.Practical implicationsInstitutional investors have an important role in supporting reduced global carbon emissions via their investment mandates and asset allocations. Renewable energy infrastructure will be a key asset to assist in the delivery of this important agenda for a greener economy and addressing global warming. Based on this performance analysis, effective pathways are identified for institutional investors of different size assets under management (AUM) to access renewable energy infrastructure. This will see institutional investors embracing critical investment issues as well as environmental and social issues in their investment strategies going forward.Originality/valueThis paper is the first published empirical research analysis on the performance of renewable energy infrastructure at a global level. This research enables empirically validated, more informed and practical decision-making by institutional investors in the renewable energy infrastructure space. The ultimate aim of this paper is to articulate the potential strategic role of renewable energy infrastructure as an important infrastructure sector in the institutional real asset investment space and to identify effective pathways to achieve this renewable energy infrastructure exposure, as institutional investors focus on the strategic issues in reducing global carbon emissions in the context of increased global warming.

The risk-adjusted performance and drivers of French healthcare property

PurposeHealthcare property has become an important alternate property sector in recent years for many international institutional investors. The purpose of this paper is to assess the risk-adjusted performance, portfolio diversification benefits and performance dynamics of French healthcare property in a French property portfolio and mixed-asset portfolio over 1999–2020. French healthcare property is seen to have different performance dynamics to the traditional French property sectors of office, retail and industrial property. Drivers and risk factors for the ongoing development of the direct healthcare property sector in France are also identified, as well as the strategic property investment implications for institutional investors.Design/methodology/approachUsing annual total returns, the risk-adjusted performance, portfolio diversification benefits and performance dynamics of French direct healthcare property over 1999–2020 are assessed. Asset allocation diagrams are used to assess the role of direct healthcare property in a French property portfolio and in a French mixed-asset portfolio. The role of specific drivers for French healthcare property performance is also assessed. Robustness checks are also done to assess the potential impact of COVID-19 on the performance of French healthcare property.FindingsFrench healthcare property is shown to have different performance dynamics to the traditional French property sectors of office, retail and industrial property. French direct healthcare property delivered strong risk-adjusted returns compared to French stocks, listed healthcare and listed property over 1999–2020, only exceeded by direct property. Portfolio diversification benefits in the fuller mixed-asset portfolio context were also evident, but to a much lesser extent in a narrower property portfolio context. Importantly, this sees French direct healthcare property as strongly contributing to the French property and mixed-asset portfolios across the entire portfolio risk spectrum and validating the property industry perspective of healthcare property being low risk and providing diversification benefits in a mixed-asset portfolio. However, this was to some degree to the loss or substitution of traditional direct property exposure via this replacement effect. French direct healthcare property and listed healthcare are clearly shown to be different channels in delivering different aspects of French healthcare performance to investors. Drivers of French healthcare property performance are also shown to be both economic and healthcare-specific factors. The performance of French healthcare property is also shown to be different to that seen for healthcare property in the UK and Australia. During COVID-19, French healthcare property was able to show more resilience than French office and retail property.Practical implicationsHealthcare property is an alternate property sector that has become increasingly important in recent years. The results highlight the important role of direct healthcare property in a French property portfolio and in a French mixed-asset portfolio, with French healthcare property having different investment dynamics to the other traditional French property sectors. The strong risk-adjusted performance of French direct healthcare property compared to French stocks, listed healthcare and listed property sees French direct healthcare property contributing to the mixed-asset portfolio across the entire portfolio risk spectrum. French healthcare property’s resilience during COVID-19 was also an attractive investment feature. This is particularly important, as many institutional investors now see healthcare property as an important property sector in their overall portfolio; particularly with the ageing population dynamics in most countries and the need for effective social infrastructure. The importance of French direct healthcare property sees direct healthcare property exposure accessible to investors as an important alternate real estate sector for their portfolios going forward via both non-listed healthcare property funds and the further future establishment of more healthcare REITs to accommodate both large and small institutional investors respectively. The resilience of French healthcare property during COVID-19 is also an attractive feature for future-proofing an investor’s portfolio.Originality/valueThis paper is the first published empirical research analysis of the risk-adjusted performance, diversification benefits and performance dynamics of French direct healthcare property, and the role of direct healthcare property in a French property portfolio and in a French mixed-asset portfolio. This research enables empirically validated, more informed and practical property investment decision-making regarding the strategic role of French direct healthcare property in a portfolio; particularly where the strategic role of direct healthcare property in France is seen to be different to that in the UK and Australia via portfolio replacement effects. Clear evidence is also seen of the drivers of French healthcare property performance being strongly influenced by healthcare-specific factors, as well as economic factors.

An in-depth investigation of five machine learning algorithms for optimizing mixed-asset portfolios including REITs

An in-depth investigation of five machine learning algorithms for optimizing mixed-asset portfolios including REITs

Optimisation of the investment strategy of the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund by adjusting the real estate quota

Purpose This paper compares the benefits of direct international real estate investments in a mixed asset portfolio from the perspective of a passive investor with high and low bond allocation.Design/methodology/approach Due to high data availability and its professionalism, the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund was used as a representative example. Real estate indices from 8 countries were used for the portfolio analysis. The data were desmoothed according to Geltners’s 1993 approach.Findings The optimal real estate ratio in the present case is around 20–55%. However, this is strongly dependent on the bond ratio of the multi-asset portfolio. Portfolios with a high equity ratio benefit more from the additional direct real estate investments than portfolios with high bond ratios.Research limitations/implications A rebalancing of individual stocks and bonds was not analysed. Only indexes from MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) were available.Practical implications Concludes that the weighting of stocks and bonds has a strong influence on the optimal real estate ratio and therefore structural changes that affect this weighting.Originality/value The originality of the paper lies in the analysis with different weights of stocks and bonds, the consideration of 8 real estate markets and the observation period. The results of the work highlight areas of interest for further research.

The role of multi-family properties in hedging pension liability risk: long-run evidence

PurposeUsing data spanning 145 years for Sweden, the authors investigate the benefits of holding multi-family properties for investors who aim to hedge wage growth.Design/methodology/approachThe authors assess the risk-adjusted excess return that results from adding multi-family properties to a mixed-asset portfolio that aims to track wage growth. The authors also analyse the macroeconomic determinants of asset returns. Finally, the authors test whether a causal relationship exists between the growth rate of real wages and that of real net operating income.FindingsThe benefits from holding multi-family properties are the greatest for low-risk allocation approaches. For more risky strategies, the role of real estate is more muted, and it varies greatly over time. Holding real estate was most beneficial during the first two decades of the 21st century. Multi-family properties are found to be the only asset class to be positively related to wage growth. The authors show that the net operating income acts as the transmission channel between wages and property returns.Practical implicationsThe paper assesses whether the growing interest of pension funds for multi-family properties is warranted in the context of a portfolio that aims to track wage growth.Originality/valueUsing long term data makes it possible to use a rolling windows approach and hence to consider multiple outcomes for an allocation strategy over a typical investment horizon. This permits to assess the dispersion of performance across several periods rather than just one as is commonly done in the literature. The results show that the conclusions that would be drawn from looking at the past two or three decades of data differ substantially from those for earlier time periods.

Investable Real Estate Allocations in a Mixed Asset Portfolio; Both Long Term and During Different Cycles

The NCREIF Property Index (NPI) data starts in 1978 and has been used as a benchmark index for over 45 years. In 2006 NCREIF created the NCREIF Open-End Diversified Core Equity Index (ODCE) and used historic fund level data to create performance data back to 1978. ODCE was the first “investable index ” in direct real estate for institutional investors, family offices, and high net worth investors who can meet these direct funds’ minimum investment levels (typically $5 million). Individual investors with less money can also access ODCE returns through Interval Funds or “Fund-of-Funds” that invest in and are designed to track or beat the ODCE Index. Since 2009 general partners of funds are required to update their net asset value (NAV) to “fair market value” on a quarterly basis as a result of Topic 820 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Both ODCE funds and interval funds have improved their liquidity with either monthly or quarterly redemption options, making them more competitive (from a liquidity aspect) with publicly traded securities. We analyze portfolio allocations over 45 years – the longest time frame ever studied and over 6 NEBR economic cycles and 4 ODCE real estate return cycles using Markowitz efficient frontier analysis. We inspect up-cycle and down-cycle periods separately and add to the literature by analyzing the ¼, ½, and ¾ points (low, medium, and high risk/return points) along the Markowitz efficient frontier. Our findings support many of the 45 studies published, but conflict with some depending upon their study methodology and time frame (9 to 25 years) studied. We conclude that real estate would have improved historic risk adjusted returns in many cycle periods.

The performance of non-listed opportunity real estate funds in China

PurposeOpportunity real estate funds are an important style of real estate investing for institutional investors seeking nonlisted real estate exposure. Importantly, institutional investors have sought exposure to the China real estate market, often via opportunity real estate funds. This has been by a pure China opportunity real estate fund (100% China opportunity real estate) or by a pan-Asia opportunity real estate fund where China opportunity real estate was part of this pan-Asia opportunity real estate portfolio. Using two bespoke China opportunity real estate indices developed by the authors, this paper aims to assess the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of China opportunity real estate in a mixed-asset portfolio over 2008–2020. It also highlights critical issues for institutional investors going forward to factor into their real estate investment decision-making for effective China real estate exposure.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops two bespoke China opportunity real estate fund performance indices to assess the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of China opportunity real estate funds in a mixed-asset portfolio over 2008–2020. An asset allocation diagram is used to assess the role of China opportunity real estate in a mixed-asset portfolio via both the non-listed and listed real estate investment channels.FindingsOver 2008–2020, China opportunity real estate exposure via pan-Asia opportunity real estate funds were seen to outperform pure China opportunity real estate funds. In both formats, China opportunity real estate funds were seen to have a significant role in a China mixed-asset portfolio across most of the portfolio risk spectrum; particularly compared to listed real estate exposure in China. On-going issues regarding real estate risk management in China will take on increased importance for institutional investors seeking China real estate exposure.Practical implicationsOpportunity real estate funds are an important style of real estate investing, often used by institutional investors to gain non-listed real estate exposure in a developing real estate market. This style of real estate investing has been popular with institutional investors seeking exposure to China real estate as part of the China economic growth dynamic. The results of this research highlight the importance of opportunity real estate investing in China, both via a pure China opportunity real estate fund and via a pan-Asia opportunity real estate fund. Based on this empirical analysis, China opportunity real estate exposure is seen to be more effective via a pan-Asia opportunity real estate fund than a 100% China opportunity real estate fund. A range of practical China real estate investment issues are also highlighted for the effective delivery of China real estate exposure for institutional investors going forward; this particularly relates to the on-going risk management for real estate investment in China.Originality/valueThis paper is the first empirical research analysis of the risk-adjusted performance of China opportunity real estate and its role in a mixed-asset portfolio. Using bespoke China opportunity real estate fund indices developed by the authors, this research enables empirically-validated, more informed and practical opportunity real estate investment decision-making regarding the strategic role of China opportunity real estate in an institutional investor's portfolio. It also highlights the importance of various facets of real estate risk management in China going forward.

Housing in the greater Paris area as an inflation hedge?

PurposeOver a long period, even low inflation has an impact on portfolio value and households’ purchasing power. In such a context, inflation hedging should remain an important issue for investors. In particular, long-term investors, who are concerned with the protection of their wealth, seek to hold effective hedging assets. This study aims to demonstrate that residential assets in “Grand Paris” are a hedge against inflation and particularly against its unexpected component.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the physical residential markets in 127 communes in Paris and the Parisian first-ring suburbs are considered as potential asset classes. We simplified the analysis by clustering the 127 communes into five homogenous groups using ascending hierarchical classification (AHC). Then, we test the hedging ability of these groups within a mixed asset portfolios using both correlation and regression analysis.FindingsThis paper presents an analysis of the “Grand Paris” housing market and its inflation hedging ability with comparison to other financial asset classes. Results show that the five housing groups act as a highly positive hedge against unexpected inflation. Furthermore, cash and bonds seem to provide, respectively, a partial and an over hedge against unexpected inflation. Stocks act as a perverse hedge against unexpected inflation and provide no significant hedge against expected inflation. Also, indirect listed real estate demonstrates little correlation with inflation, which makes us reject its hedging ability contrary to physical residential real estate.Research limitations/implicationsThe inflation topic: although several researches exist that question the hedging property of real estate, very few concentrate on physical residential assets and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the only one that targets the “Grand Paris” area. Residential assets of the “Grand Paris” communes are confirmed to be a hedge against inflation and particularly against its unexpected component thanks to its capital appreciation rather than income one. Also, we show that the listed real estate in France (Sociétés d’Investissement Immobilier Cotée) does not provide the same hedging properties contrary to the US real estate investment trusts (REITs) who demonstrate this ability. Listed real estate could thus not be used interchangeably with housing to protect from inflation in the French market.Practical implicationsProtection of investors against inflation and in particular in the face of its return to France in 2022. Reassuring promoters and investors of the interest of residential investment projects in “Greater Paris” and of the potential that this holds.Social implicationsInflation takes a chunk out of the purchasing power of money and thereby erodes the real value of people’s finance. Investors and households who seek protection from inflation erosion should invest in direct housing, and in particular within areas that are experiencing an effective metropolization process.Originality/valueThe originality of the study is precisely relative to the geographical area studied. The latter has experienced favorable economic conditions for several years and offers interesting fundamentals to explore and exploit in investment strategies that prove capable of protecting against imminent inflation. The database is specific to this project and has been built through the compilation of several sources and with the support of BNP Paribas Real Estate.

Practice Briefing Analysis of the emergence and initial performance of REITs in India

PurposeIn 2014, real estate investment trust (REIT) emerged as a new alternative investment option in India. This research aims to give an empirical authentication of the Indian REITs performance from April 2019 to July 2022 across a range of investment variables.Design/methodology/approachUsing monthly total returns in Indian Rupee, risk-adjusted Indian REIT performance and investment portfolio characteristics are examined. Indian REITs' potential in a diversified multi-asset portfolio is analysed using the mean-variance analysis, asset allocation diagram and efficient frontier.FindingsDuring April 2019–July 2022, Indian REITs provided a lower return than stocks but outperformed bonds despite coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdowns, which hurt the traditional working from office concept. The study also examined REIT allocation to an Indian mixed-asset portfolio and the benefits of a diversified portfolio.Practical implicationsIndian REITs provide a liquid, transparent alternative to direct property for investors seeking exposure to Indian real estate markets. Indian REITs gave real estate companies an extra funding source and investors an alternate asset. This paper explores Indian REITs' potential opportunities, given that domestic and foreign investors' demand for transparent property investment in India. The analysis found a positive early performance despite a challenging environment.Originality/valueThis paper offers the first empirical performance validation of Indian REITs as a way to obtain exposure to commercial property in India and the REITs' role in a diversified asset portfolio. The authors' study improves investors' decision-making abilities by providing empirically validated, valuable and practicable property investing insights.

The dynamic role of the Japanese property sector REITs in mixed-assets portfolio

PurposeThis study examined the dynamic role of the Japanese property sector, particularly the real estate investment trusts (REITs), in mixed-asset portfolios of stocks and bonds, as well as office, retail, hotel and residential REITs.Design/methodology/approachDaily data were retrieved from 01 January 2008 to 31 December 2019. The sample time frame consisted of in-sample and out-of-sample periods. The dynamic conditional correlation-generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (DCC-GJRGARCH) model was deployed to obtain the forecast estimates of time-varying volatility of REITs and correlations with other assets. The estimates were employed to construct out-of-sample portfolios based on the three assets for daily investment. The five sets of portfolios with each individual property sector REITs, as well as a portfolio of stocks and bonds that served as a benchmark, were produced. The average utility for each set of portfolios was estimated and compared with the average utility of the benchmark portfolio. The average transaction cost (TC) for portfolio rebalancing was calculated as well.FindingsThe forecast of volatility estimates for each property sector revealed that each asset displayed a similar pattern with the differences in the volatility magnitude. Notably, hotel and retail REITs were more volatile than other property sector REITs. The property sector REITs exhibited a positive correlation with stocks but negatively linked with bonds. The results unveiled the diversification benefits of incorporating property sector REITs. The portfolio with property sector REITs had higher risk-adjusted returns and utility, compared to portfolio consisting of stocks and bonds. The benefits outweighed the TC for portfolio rebalancing.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the importance of quantifying the conditional time-varying volatility and correlations of the property sector REITs with other asset returns, especially for investment decision, to select and include property sector REITs in mixed-asset portfolios. For fund managers seeking liquid assets in daily investment, this analysis suggests the inclusion of hotel and retail REITs to enhance REITs' portfolio performance.Originality/valueThis study is the first to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the volatility and correlation of each property sector REITs with other financial assets by employing the conditional framework that accounted for short- and long-run persistency in economic shocks. The reported outcomes shed light on the differences in the underlying properties that contribute to the variances in dynamic volatility of each sector REITs, as well as REITs' correlations with stocks and bonds. This application enables the authors to transmit the dynamics of variance-covariance matrix amongst each property sector REITs, stocks and bonds into asset allocation problem on a daily basis.

Another Take on Real Estate's Role in Mixed-Asset Portfolio Allocations

Another Take on Real Estate's Role in Mixed-Asset Portfolio Allocations

Choice of a Mixed-Asset Portfolio Based on Third-Degree Stochastic Dominance

Choice of a Mixed-Asset Portfolio Based on Third-Degree Stochastic Dominance

Role of Real Estate in a Mixed-Asset Portfolio and the Impact of Illiquidity

Real estate ratios have increased in recent years. This article thus examines the diversification potential of real estate investments that German investors can achieve at a global scale. To this end, it analyzes how the illiquidity of some real estate investments or the illiquidity preference of an investor can bring about optimal investment ratios. Optimum allocation quotas for German investors with a wide range of mixed-asset allocations are examined. In addition to traditional optimizations, this article applies the three-fund theorem to include liquid and illiquid forms of real estate investment and to determine optimum allocation ratios. While real estate may be an essential component in a mixed-asset portfolio, it is not included in all optimal portfolios. An optimal portfolio also depends on the investment form, insofar as real estate vehicles are not always suitable for diversifying the portfolio risk or for improving the performance of a mixed-asset portfolio. Moreover, illiquid investment vehicles can often provide strong diversification benefits. The optimum allocations to real estate thus depend on the investor’s illiquidity acceptance, even if allocation dominance has increased in recent years. While many studies have demonstrated the advantage that investors gain from adding certain real estate assets, such as those obtained by direct investments, this study goes further by examining the comparative advantage of different real estate investment forms within a variety of asset classes. New insights can thus be gained by considering investors’ liquidity preferences within a given portfolio. One of these insights is that there is a trade-off between illiquidity and diversification potential. Another is that optimum portfolio allocations depend on illiquidity acceptance. These findings therefore also provide practical guidance not only to German investors with a global portfolio diversification but also to practitioners who add illiquid asset classes to their portfolio, to say nothing of the valuable field knowledge it offers to researchers in this field.

Performance Analysis of a Philippine REIT and Its Optimal Allocation in a Mixed-asset Portfolio

Real estate investment trusts (REIT) are new and potentially lucrative investment vehicles in the Philippines with their inherent risks and rewards. Understanding their behavior and characteristics allows investors to maximize their profits and mitigate their risks. This study specifically considers the Ayala REIT (AREIT) and aims to conduct a performance analysis on it. The study used daily closing quotes of AREIT, Philippine Stock Exchange index and sectoral indices, S&P Philippine bond index, and monthly Philippine treasury bill from August 2020–April 2021. By using established methods in the modern portfolio theory (MPT), the risk- adjusted returns of the AREIT were obtained and compared with those of other assets. Other descriptors, such as correlations that indicate diversification potential were also obtained. This research also extends beyond performance and comparative analyses by using the mean-variance framework to determine the efficient frontiers that highlight the opportunity set of portfolios with the best return for a given level of risk. As a final modification in our AREIT description, this study employed the utility theory to incorporate an investor’s risk appetite in determining the optimal allocation of AREIT. The results show that AREIT had high returns and low risk relative to the other assets considered, as well as low to negative correlations with these assets. Moreover, it was observed that optimal AREIT weight increased with risk-aversion. AREIT played a dual role in increasing yields and mitigating risks in the portfolios considered.

The Performance and Diversification Potential of Non-Listed Value-Add Real Estate Funds in Japan

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-core investments are gaining traction amongst institutional investors due to the shifting preference towards investment vehicles that position higher on the risk–return curve. Non-listed value-add real estate funds in Japan are one such vehicle. This research develops a comprehensive bespoke benchmark total return index using the ANREV database to reflect the performance of Japan-focussed non-listed value-add real estate funds. We compare the performance of such funds with that of other asset classes and perform portfolio and regression analyses. We conclude that there are several advantages to investing in those funds, including: (1) strong absolute total return performance, (2) competitive risk-adjusted performance, and (3) significant portfolio diversification potential in a mixed-asset portfolio context. The strategic implications for real estate investors are also assessed.

The Role of Housing in a Mixed-Asset Portfolio: The Particular Case of Direct Housing within the Greater Paris area

This article explores the role of physical residential real estate within the optimal multi-asset portfolio. Specifically, we consider direct housing within the Grand Paris metropolis between 1996 and 2017 as an asset class together with financial assets. Our findings bring several contributions to the residential market literature. First, directly held housing investment brings diversification benefits to the mixed-asset portfolio. Second, using hierarchical clustering technique, we divide the Greater Paris area into five homogenous groups of communes and compute the optimal weight of each commune as well as each group of communes in the tangency portfolio. Third, we check the weights’ stability through time and confirm that residential real estate always catches the highest weight in the optimal portfolio. Finally, we run additional tests to compare listed real estate performances in a mixed asset portfolio with those obtained by considering physical residential real estate. We conclude that listed real estate is not a substitute for direct housing.

Real Estate ETNs in Strategic Asset Allocation

Previous research has shown that real estate serves as a diversifier in mixed-asset portfolios. However, this empirical finding is beset with some drawbacks associated with direct real estate investment. In order to overcome some of these drawbacks, we use theoretical real estate exchange traded notes (ETNs) in a mean-shortfall setting to optimize an international mixed-asset portfolio. In addition, the typical long-only strategy is abandoned in favor of a 130/30 long-short and an exchange rate hedge strategy. Not only in-sample but also out-of-sample portfolios yield significant diversification benefits by means of real estate ETNs in different portfolio strategies.

Nonlinear differential equations based on the B-S-M model in the pricing of derivatives in financial markets

Abstract The pricing and hedging of financial derivatives have become one of the hot research issues in mathematical finance today. In the case of non-risk neutrality, this article uses the martingale method and probability measurement method to study the pricing method and hedging strategy of financial derivatives. This paper also further studies the hedging strategy of financial derivatives in the incomplete market based on the BSM model and converts the solution of this problem into solving a vector on the Hilbert space to its closure. The problem of space projection is to use projection theory to decompose financial derivatives under a given martingale measure. In the imperfect market, the vertical projection theory is used to obtain the approximate pricing method and hedging strategy of financial derivatives in which the underlying asset follows the martingale process; the projection theory is further expanded, and the pricing problem of financial derivatives under the mixed-asset portfolio is obtained. Approximate pricing of financial derivatives; in the discrete state, the hedging investment strategy of financial derivatives H in the imperfect market is found through the method of variance approximation.

Volatility Decay and Diversification Role of Timberland as the Investment Horizon Lengthens

Abstract Under the mean-variance efficiency framework, we investigate the role of timberland asset in a mixed-asset portfolio in the United States. Starting from a single period (quarterly) view, we first reveal the crucial role of serial correlation in defining an asset’s financial performance. Accordingly, we modify return, volatility, and correlation for multiyear horizons to account for the nature of long-term investments. Our results show that, although timberland is persistent in all portfolios, private-equity timberland can be substituted by other liquid assets, including public-equity timberland, as the lengthening holding period substantially reduces their volatilities. We conclude that private-equity timberland is a risk diversifier regardless of the length of the investment horizon, whereas public-equity timberland becomes a suitable diversifier only for long-term investors with high risk tolerance.