HKU HKU Dept of Statistics & Actuarial Science, HKU
 
 

Seminar by Prof. Athanasios A. Pantelous from Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, Monash University


DateThursday, 26 September 2024
Time2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
VenueRR301, Run Run Shaw Building
 
TitleLong-term dynamic asset allocation under asymmetric risk preferences
Abstract

In this paper, we examine the impact of return predictability and parameter uncertainty on long-term portfolio allocations when investors’ utility function quantifies their asymmetric behaviour against expected gains and losses on risky assets. Allowing for different return generating systems and two investable assets, we examine the way portfolio allocation to the risky asset evolves over the course of the investment horizon in the presence of risk asymmetries. We find persisting horizon effects, with stocks appearing progressively more attractive at longer horizons as opposed to shorter ones. The role of parameter uncertainty also appears to be prominent in the portfolio choice problem. Accounting for this results in both significantly lowering the exposure to the risky asset and lessening the horizon effects driven by return predictability. An equally important aspect of this study relates to detecting a level of disappointment aversion below which it is optimal for investors to hold zero units of a risky asset. In this regard, our analysis has implications for the nonparticipation puzzle in stock markets.

About the speaker

Athanasios A. Pantelous is a Professor at the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash University, Australia. Dr. Pantelous’ primary research interests focus on the general area of quantitative research and mathematical modeling under risk and uncertainty with an emphasis on finance, actuarial science, engineering and operational research. Dr. Pantelous has published more than 170 technical papers in peer-reviewed international journals such as PNAS, IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, European Journal of Operational Research, Energy Economics, Risk Analysis, International Journal of Forecasting, and conference proceedings. He has served in the scientific and/or organizing committees of several international technical conferences, and has founded and chaired the Quantitative Finance and Risk Analysis (QFRA) symposium series. Finally, he has been awarded research grants by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), European Research Council (ERC) as well as has participated in several industrial-funded projects.