Volume 25, Issue 2

This paper proposes a hierarchical modeling approach to perform stochastic model specification in Markov switching vector error correction models. We assume that a common distribution gives rise to the regime-specific regression coefficients. The mean as well as the variances of this distribution are treated as fully stochastic and suitable shrinkage priors are used. These shrinkage priors enable to assess which coefficients differ across regimes in a flexible manner. In the case of similar coefficients, our model pushes the respective regions of the parameter space towards the common distribution. This allows for selecting a parsimonious model while still maintaining sufficient flexibility to control for sudden shifts in the parameters, if necessary. We apply our modeling approach to real-time Euro area data and assume transition probabilities between expansionary and recessionary regimes to be driven by the cointegration errors. The results suggest that the regime allocation is governed by a subset of short-run adjustment coefficients and regime-specific variance-covariance matrices. These findings are complemented by an out-of-sample forecast exercise, illustrating the advantages of the model for predicting Euro area inflation in real time.

This paper introduces a Bayesian MCMC method, referred to as a marginalized mixture sampler, for state space models whose disturbances follow stochastic volatility processes. The marginalized mixture sampler is based on a mixture-normal approximation of the log- χ 2 distribution, but it is implemented without the need to simulate the mixture indicator variable. The key innovation is to use the filter ing scheme developed by Kim (Kim C.-J. 1994. “Dynamic Linear Models with Markov-Switching.” Journal of Econometrics 60: 1–22.) and the forward-filtering backward-sampling algorithm to generate a proposal series of the latent stochastic volatility process. The proposal series is then accepted according to the Metropolis-Hastings acceptance probability. The new sampler is examined within an unobserved component model and a time-varying parameter vector autoregressive model, and it reduces substantially the correlations between MCMC draws.

This study determines which index has the strongest influence on the exchange-trade note (ETN) returns using the grey relational analysis. Results show that the volatility index is the strongest, followed by the S&P 500 stock index, the US dollar index, the CRB index, the Trade index, and the Brent crude oil index. However, the US dollar index has the most significant effect of using the index values of currency ETNs, followed by the S&P 500 stock index, volatility index, Brent crude oil index, the CRB index, and Trade index. This study applies four types of the artificial neural network model, namely, back-propagation neural network (BPN), recurrent neural network (RNN), time-delay recurrent neural network (TDRNN), and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) to capture the nonlinear tendencies of ETNs for better forecasting accuracy. The paper finds that the RNN and RBFNN models have stronger predictive power among the models, and provides the highest forecasting accuracy for the majority of the currency ETNs. However, the RNN model consistently shows that the low grey relational grades (GRG) variables have the strongest influence on the ETN returns, compared with combining all and high GRG variables. These findings suggest that fund managers and traders can potentially rely on both RNN and RBFNN models, particularly the former, in their applications in financial time-series modeling.

In this work, our goal is to analyze the use of the Cross Recurrence Plot (CRP) and its quantification (CRQA) as tools to detect the possible existence of a relationship between two systems. To do that, we define three tests that are a bivariate extension of those proposed by Aparicio et al. (Aparicio, T., E. Pozo, and D. Saura. 2008. “Detecting Determinism Using Recurrence Quantification Analysis: Three Test Procedures.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 65: 768–787, Aparicio, T., E. F. Pozo, and D. Saura. 2011. “Detecting Determinism Using Recurrence Quantification Analysis: A Solution to the Problem of Embedding.” Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics and Econometrics 15: 1–10) within the context of the Recurrence Quantification Analysis. These tests, based on the diagonal lines of the CRP, are applied to a large number of simulated pairs of series. The results obtained are not always satisfactory, with problems being detected specifically when the series have a high degree of laminarity. We study the identified problems and we implement a strategy that we consider adequate for the use of these tools. Finally, as an example, we apply this strategy to several economic series.

Can information on macroeconomic uncertainty improve the forecast accuracy for key macroeconomic time series for the US? Since previous studies have demonstrated that the link between the real economy and uncertainty is subject to nonlinearities, I assess the predictive power of macroeconomic uncertainty in both linear and nonlinear Bayesian VARs. For the latter, I use a threshold VAR that allows for regime-dependent dynamics conditional on the level of the uncertainty measure. I find that the predictive power of macroeconomic uncertainty in the linear VAR is negligible. In contrast, using information on macroeconomic uncertainty in a threshold VAR can significantly improve the accuracy of short-term point and density forecasts, especially in the presence of high uncertainty.

This study examines the asymmetric responses of sector stock indices returns to positive and negative fluctuations in oil prices using the NARDL model. Our empirical findings support indirect transmissions of oil price fluctuation to the financial market through industrial production and short-term interest rate. Furthermore, both direct and indirect impacts of oil price shocks on stock returns are sector dependent. These results are with substantial policy implications either for investors or for policymakers. They mainly help government authorities to reduce the instability in financial markets caused by the major oil price shocks. The analysis of the impact of oil price shocks on stock markets also helps the financial market participants to adjust their decisions and revise their coverage of energy policy that is substantially affected by the turbulence and uncertainty in the crude oil market. Finally, based on the forecast of the oil price shocks effects, the central bank should adjust the interest rate in order to face up to the inflation rate induced by oil prices since oil prices act as an inflationary factor.

This paper investigates dependence among insurance claims arising from different lines of business (LoBs). Using bivariate and multivariate portfolios of losses from different LoBs, we analyse the ability of various copulas in conjunction with skewed generalised hyperbolic (GH) marginals to capture the dependence structure between individual insurance risks forming an aggregate risk of the loss portfolio. The general form skewed GH distribution is shown to provide the best fit to univariate loss data. When modelling dependency between LoBs using one-parameter and mixture copula models, we favour models that are capable of generating upper tail dependence, that is, when several LoBs have a strong tendency to exhibit extreme losses simultaneously. We compare the selected models in their ability to quantify risks of multivariate portfolios. By performing an extensive investigation of the in- and out-of-sample Value-at-Risk (VaR) forecasts by analysing VaR exceptions (i.e. observations of realised portfolio value that are greater than the estimated VaR), we demonstrate that the selected models allow to reliably quantify portfolio risk. Our results provide valuable insights with regards to the nature of dependence and fulfils one of the primary objectives of the general insurance providers aiming at assessing total risk of an aggregate portfolio of losses when LoBs are correlated.