Power Utility Maximization Research Articles

Correction: Power utility maximization with expert opinions at fixed arrival times in a market with hidden gaussian drift

Correction: Power utility maximization with expert opinions at fixed arrival times in a market with hidden gaussian drift

Power utility maximization with expert opinions at fixed arrival times in a market with hidden Gaussian drift

AbstractIn this paper we study optimal trading strategies in a financial market in which stock returns depend on a hidden Gaussian mean reverting drift process. Investors obtain information on that drift by observing stock returns. Moreover, expert opinions in the form of signals about the current state of the drift arriving at fixed and known dates are included in the analysis. Drift estimates are based on Kalman filter techniques. They are used to transform a power utility maximization problem under partial information into an optimization problem under full information where the state variable is the filter of the drift. The dynamic programming equation for this problem is studied and closed-form solutions for the value function and the optimal trading strategy of an investor are derived. They allow to quantify the monetary value of information delivered by the expert opinions. We illustrate our theoretical findings by results of extensive numerical experiments.

Expected power utility maximization with delay for insurers under the 4/2 stochastic volatility model

In this paper, we are interested in the optimal investment and reinsurance strategies of an insurer with delay under the $ 4/2 $ stochastic volatility model. Indeed, the objective of the insurer is to maximize the expected power utility of the terminal wealth and the average wealth on finite time horizon. The other objective is to maximize the growth rate of expected power utility per unit time on infinite time horizon. The wealth of the insurer is described by an approximation of the classical Cramér–Lundberg process. Then, these problems can be formulated as stochastic control problems with delay. A pair of forward-backward stochastic differential equations that are derived via the stochastic maximum principle has an explicit solution obtained by solving a Riccati differential equation. So, the optimal strategy of the finite time horizon problem can be constructed explicitly. And, by investigating asymptotics of the Riccati equation, the infinite time horizon problem can be solved explicitly. Finally, we present some numerical results to illustrate our model, optimal strategies and sensitivities of some parameters.

Expected Power Utility Maximization of Insurers

Expected Power Utility Maximization of Insurers

Power utility maximization problem under rough stochastic local volatility models with continuous-time Markov chain approximation

This paper studies the portfolio optimization problem based on rough stochastic local volatility models. Due to the challenge that this model is neither a semimartingale nor a Markov process, we first introduce the semimartingale approximate optimization problem and present the convergence analysis. We use the classic stochastic control method and continuous-time Markov chain approximation approach to solve the approximate optimization problem respectively. Then the optimal investment strategy and the HJB equation satisfied by the value function are obtained respectively. Furthermore, for the classic stochastic control method, we demonstrate the existence of solutions for the associated partial differential equation via the nonlinear Feynman–Kac formula. For continuous-time Markov chain approximation method, we prove the convergence of the value function. Finally, we provide a numerical analysis to illustrate the above results by using the power utility function. The numerical analysis shows that continuous-time Markov chain approximation method is effective in solving the portfolio optimization problem under rough stochastic local volatility models.

Numerical study for expected power utility maximization of insurers

Numerical study for expected power utility maximization of insurers

Robust control in a rough environment

This paper studies robust decision problems in a rough environment that is described by Volterra processes. Various alternative dominated models are introduced to reflect decision makers' concerns regarding model uncertainty. Using a functional Itô calculus approach, we characterize the robust optimal strategy by a path-dependent Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman–Isaacs equation. Explicit strategies are derived for robust power and exponential utility maximization with the Volterra Heston model and an example from a robust linear-quadratic control problem. Numerical study shows that it becomes harder to distinguish two probability measures in a rougher environment. Robust optimal investment strategies can reduce losses from ignoring volatility roughness and model uncertainty and can improve the stability of portfolio performance.

Portfolio optimization for cointelated pairs: SDEs vs Machine learning

With the recent rise of Machine Learning (ML) as a candidate to partially replace classic Financial Mathematics (FM) methodologies, we investigate the performances of both in solving the problem of dynamic portfolio optimization in continuous-time, finite-horizon setting for a portfolio of two assets that are intertwined. In the Financial Mathematics approach we model the asset prices not via the common approaches used in pairs trading such as a high correlation or cointegration, but with the cointelation model in Mahdavi-Damghani (2013) that aims to reconcile both short-term risk and long-term equilibrium. We maximize the overall P&L with Financial Mathematics approach that dynamically switches between a mean-variance optimal strategy and a power utility maximizing strategy. We use a stochastic control formulation of the problem of power utility maximization and solve numerically the resulting HJB equation with the Deep Galerkin method introduced in Sirignano and Spiliopoulos (2018). We turn to Machine Learning for the same P&L maximization problem and use clustering analysis to devise bands, combined with in-band optimization. Although this approach is model agnostic, results obtained with data simulated from the same cointelation model gives a slight competitive advantage to the ML over the FM methodology1.

Portfolio Optimization for Cointelated Pairs: SDEs vs Machine Learning

With the recent rise of Machine Learning (ML) as a candidate to partially replace classic Financial Mathematics (FM) methodologies, we investigate the performances of both in solving the problem of dynamic portfolio optimization in continuous-time, finite-horizon setting for a portfolio of two assets that are intertwined. In Financial Mathematics approach we model the asset prices not via the common approaches used in pairs trading such as a high correlation or cointegration, but with the cointelation model that aims to reconcile both short-term risk and long-term equilibrium. We maximize the overall P&L with Financial Mathematics approach that dynamically switches between a mean-variance optimal strategy and a power utility maximizing strategy. We use a stochastic control formulation of the problem of power utility maximization and solve numerically the resulting HJB equation with the Deep Galerkin method. We turn to Machine Learning for the same P&L maximization problem and use clustering analysis to devise bands, combined with in-band optimization. Although this approach is model agnostic, results obtained with data simulated from the same cointelation model as FM give an edge to ML.

Power Utility Maximization Problems Under Partial Information and Information Sufficiency in a Brownian Setting

We consider the problem of expected power utility maximization from terminal wealth in diffusion market models under partial information. After obtaining novel neat expressions for the value-process and for the optimal strategy, the issue of information sufficiency is addressed. In particular, necessary and sufficient conditions that guarantee that the partial information optimal strategy is still optimal when having access to all market information, are provided.

Dynamic portfolio optimization with risk management and strategy constraints

We investigate the problem of power utility maximization considering risk management and strategy constraints. The aim of this paper is to obtain admissible dynamic portfolio strategies. In case the floor is guaranteed with probability one, we provide two admissible solutions, the option based portfolio insurance in the constrained model, and the alternative method and show that none of the solutions dominate the other. In case the floor is guaranteed partially, we provide one admissible solution, the portfolio insurance with spreads.

On a Connection between Power and Logarithmic Utility Maximization Problems in the Exponential Lévy Model

In this paper we solve the problem of power utility maximization in the exponential Lévy model by reducing it to the problem of logarithmic utility maximization (more exactly, to the problem of finding a numeraire portfolio) in the same model but with a different Lévy process. We also obtain a connection between the solutions of the dual problems.

STABILITY OF THE EXPONENTIAL UTILITY MAXIMIZATION PROBLEM WITH RESPECT TO PREFERENCES

This paper studies stability of the exponential utility maximization when there are small variations on agent's utility function. Two settings are considered. First, in a general semimartingale model where random endowments are present, a sequence of utilities defined on converges to the exponential utility. Under a uniform condition on their marginal utilities, convergence of value functions, optimal payoffs, and optimal investment strategies are obtained, their rate of convergence is also determined. Stability of utility‐based pricing is studied as an application. Second, a sequence of utilities defined on converges to the exponential utility after shifting and scaling. Their associated optimal strategies, after appropriate scaling, converge to the optimal strategy for the exponential hedging problem. This complements Theorem 3.2 in [Nutz, M. (2012): Risk aversion asymptotics for power utility maximization. Probab. Theory & Relat. Fields 152, 703–749], which establishes the convergence for a sequence of power utilities.

The Stability of the Constrained Utility Maximization Problem: A BSDE Approach

This article studies the sensitivity of the power utility maximization problem with respect to the investor's relative risk aversion, the statistical probability measure, the investment constraints, and the market price of risk. We extend previous descriptions of the dual domain and then exploit the link between the constrained utility maximization problem and continuous semimartingale quadratic BSDEs to reduce questions on sensitivity to results on stability for such equations. This then allows us to prove appropriate convergence of the primal and dual optimizers in the semimartingale topology.

Expected Power-Utility Maximization Under Incomplete Information and with Cox-Process Observations

We consider the problem of maximization of expected terminal power utility (risk sensitive criterion). The underlying market model is a regime-switching diffusion model where the regime is determined by an unobservable factor process forming a finite state Markov process. The main novelty is due to the fact that prices are observed and the portfolio is rebalanced only at random times corresponding to a Cox process where the intensity is driven by the unobserved Markovian factor process as well. This leads to a more realistic modeling for many practical situations, like in markets with liquidity restrictions; on the other hand it considerably complicates the problem to the point that traditional methodologies cannot be directly applied. The approach presented here is specific to the power-utility. For log-utilities a different approach is presented in Fujimoto et al. (Preprint, 2012).

UTILITY MAXIMIZATION WITH INTERMEDIATE CONSUMPTION UNDER RESTRICTED INFORMATION FOR JUMP MARKET MODELS

The contribution of this paper is twofold: we study power utility maximization problems (with and without intermediate consumption) in a partially observed financial market with jumps and we solve by the innovation method the arising filtering problem. We consider a Markovian model where the risky asset dynamics St follows a pure jump process whose local characteristics are not observable by investors. More precisely, the stock price process dynamics depends on an unobservable stochastic factor Xt described by a jump-diffusion process. We assume that agents' decisions are based on the knowledge of an information flow, [Formula: see text], containing the asset price history, [Formula: see text]. Using projection on the filtration [Formula: see text], the partially observable investment-consumption problem is reduced to a full observable stochastic control problem. The homogeneity of the power utility functions leads to a factorization of the associated value process into a part depending on the current wealth and the so called opportunity process Jt. In the case where [Formula: see text], Jt and the optimal investment-consumption strategy are represented in terms of solutions to a backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE) driven by the [Formula: see text]-compensated martingale random measure associated to St, which can be obtained by filtering techniques (Ceci, 2006; Ceci and Gerardi, 2006). Next, we extend the study to the case [Formula: see text], where ηt gives observations of Xt in additional Gaussian noise. This setup can be viewed as an abstract form of "insider information". The opportunity process Jt is now characterized as a solution to a BSDE driven by the [Formula: see text]-compensated martingale random measure and the so called innovation process. Computation of these quantities leads to a filtering problem with mixed type observation and whose solution is discussed via the innovation approach.

Power utility maximization in exponential Lévy models: convergence of discrete-time to continuous-time maximizers

Consider power utility maximization of terminal wealth in a 1-dimensional continuous-time exponential Levy model with finite time horizon. We discretize the model by restricting portfolio adjustments to an equidistant discrete time grid. Under minimal assumptions we prove convergence of the optimal discrete-time strategies to the continuous-time counterpart. In addition, we provide and compare qualitative properties of the discrete-time and continuous-time optimizers.

BSDEs in utility maximization with BMO market price of risk

This article studies quadratic semimartingale BSDEs arising in power utility maximization when the market price of risk is of BMO type. In a Brownian setting we provide a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a solution but show that uniqueness fails to hold in the sense that there exists a continuum of distinct square-integrable solutions. This feature occurs since, contrary to the classical Itô representation theorem, a representation of random variables in terms of stochastic exponentials is not unique. We study in detail when the BSDE has a bounded solution and derive a new dynamic exponential moments condition which is shown to be the minimal sufficient condition in a general filtration. The main results are complemented by several interesting examples which illustrate their sharpness as well as important properties of the utility maximization BSDE.

The Bellman equation for power utility maximization with semimartingales

We study utility maximization for power utility random fields with and without intermediate consumption in a general semimartingale model with closed portfolio constraints. We show that any optimal strategy leads to a solution of the corresponding Bellman equation. The optimal strategies are described pointwise in terms of the opportunity process, which is characterized as the minimal solution of the Bellman equation. We also give verification theorems for this equation.

POWER UTILITY MAXIMIZATION IN CONSTRAINED EXPONENTIAL LÉVY MODELS

We study power utility maximization for exponential Lévy models with portfolio constraints, where utility is obtained from consumption and/or terminal wealth. For convex constraints, an explicit solution in terms of the Lévy triplet is constructed under minimal assumptions by solving the Bellman equation. We use a novel transformation of the model to avoid technical conditions. The consequences for q‐optimal martingale measures are discussed as well as extensions to nonconvex constraints.