Tag Archives: benchmark
Investment performance: measurement versus calculation
I recently had a frustrating — for both parties — conversation involving performance measurement. I said “measurement”. My dialogist heard “calculation” but wanted “measurement”. We went dizzy in the chase. Calculation and Measurement What’s the difference? A calculation is what computers do. A measurement is an assessment. It is a comparison with an ulterior motive. I’m … Continue reading
How to add a benchmark to a variance matrix
There is a good way and a bad way to add a benchmark to a variance matrix that will be used for optimization and similar operations. Our examination sheds a little light on the process of variance matrix estimation in this realm. Role of benchmarks Investing Benchmarks are common in investment management. It’s my opinion … Continue reading
Posted in Quant finance, R language
Tagged benchmark, Ledoit-Wolf shrinkage, statistical factor model, variance matrix
Leave a comment
Low volatility investing and benchmarks
The focus on tracking error rules out a low volatility strategy. Simply put, most money managers are focused on outperforming their benchmarks without adding risk. And because risk is measured on a relative basis, a portfolio that moves up and down less than its benchmark is perceived as more risky on a relative basis because … Continue reading
Some new ideas in financial mathematics
Financial mathematicians have built an increasingly elaborate structure around the idea of “the market” … In this article, I intend to challenge some of these foundational concepts with the intention of destabilizing the intellectual structure that has been erected on top of them and to demonstrate how a randomly generated portfolio can beat “the market,” … Continue reading
The benchmark gambit
What do we lose when we use a benchmark? Simple Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler. — Albert Einstein Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. — Albert Einstein Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler. — Albert Einstein Everything should be as simple … Continue reading
Benchmarking low-volatilty strategies
Low volatility investing and performance measurement — my favorite topic scheme — how could I resist? The paper The paper is “Benchmarking Low-Volatility Strategies” by David Blitz and Pim van Vliet. The problem They claim that using a low-volatility index as a benchmark for a low-volatility strategy is not a good idea because: All low-volatility … Continue reading
Posted in Fund management in general, Performance
Tagged benchmark, low volatility investing
11 Comments
What is a good benchmark?
One suggestion is that benchmarks should be: transparent & unambiguous frame-able & customize-able appropriate with full coverage investable The source of this suggestion is Setting the Benchmark: Spotlight on Private Equity. This was discussed by All About Alpha. The paper considers indices and peer groups as benchmarks. They did not consider random portfolios. Let’s look … Continue reading
