Optimization Methods

We study a mathematical model for the optimization of the price of real estate (RE). This model can be characterised by a limited amount of goods, fixed sales horizon and presence of intermediate sales and revenue goals. We develop it as an enhancement and upgrade of the model presented by Besbes an

This work focuses on the mathematical study of constant function market makers. We rigorously establish the conditions for optimal trading under the assumption of a quasilinear, but not necessarily convex (or concave), trade function. This generalizes previous results that used convexity, and also g

This paper introduces a novel methodology for index return forecasting, blending highly correlated stock prices, advanced deep learning techniques, and intricate factor integration. Departing from conventional cap-weighted approaches, our innovative framework promises to reimagine traditional method

Higher order risk measures are stochastic optimization problems by design, and for this reason they enjoy valuable properties in optimization under uncertainties. They nicely integrate with stochastic optimization problems, as has been observed by the intriguing concept of the risk quadrangles, for

This paper addresses the continuous-time portfolio selection problem under generalized disappointment aversion (GDA). The implicit definition of the certainty equivalent within GDA preferences introduces time inconsistency to this problem. We provide the sufficient and necessary condition for a stra

A sequence of spin-1/2 particles polarised in one of two possible directions is presented to an experimenter, who can wager in a double-or-nothing game on the outcomes of measurements in freely chosen polarisation directions. Wealth is accrued through astute betting. As information is gained from th

In finance, sequential decision problems are often faced, for which reinforcement learning (RL) emerges as a promising tool for optimisation without the need of analytical tractability. However, the objective of classical RL is the expected cumulated reward, while financial applications typically re

This article constructs a forward exponential utility in a market with multiple defaultable risks. Using the Jacod-Pham decomposition for random fields, we first characterize forward performance processes in a defaultable market under the default-free filtration. We then construct a forward utility

Portfolio optimization is a critical task in investment. Most existing portfolio optimization methods require information on the distribution of returns of the assets that make up the portfolio. However, such distribution information is usually unknown to investors. Various methods have been propose

This paper investigates an optimal consumption-investment problem featuring recursive utility via Tsallis relative entropy. We establish a fundamental connection between this optimization problem and a quadratic backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE), demonstrating that the value function

Based on the theory of càdlàg rough paths, we develop a pathwise approach to analyze stability and approximation properties of portfolios along individual price trajectories generated by standard models of financial markets. As a prototypical example from portfolio theory, we study the log-optimal p

Given $μ$ and $ν$, probability measures on $\mathbb R^d$ in convex order, a Bass martingale is arguably the most natural martingale starting with law $μ$ and finishing with law $ν$. Indeed, this martingale is obtained by stretching a reference Brownian motion so as to meet the data $μ,ν$. Unless $μ$

Financial portfolio management investment policies computed quantitatively by modern portfolio theory techniques like the Markowitz model rely on a set on assumptions that are not supported by data in high volatility markets. Hence, quantitative researchers are looking for alternative models to tack

In this paper, we study an optimal mean-variance investment-reinsurance problem for an insurer (she) under a Cramér-Lundberg model with random coefficients. At any time, the insurer can purchase reinsurance or acquire new business and invest her surplus in a security market consisting of a risk-free

Based on supermodularity ordering properties, we show that convex risk measures of credit losses are nondecreasing w.r.t. credit-credit and, in a wrong-way risk setup, credit-market, covariances of elliptically distributed latent factors. These results support the use of such setups for computing cr

This paper studies an optimal insurance contracting problem in which the preferences of the decision maker given by the sum of the expected loss and a convex, increasing function of a deviation measure. As for the deviation measure, our focus is on convex signed Choquet integrals (such as the Gini c

This chapter presents a calendar rebalancing approach to portfolios of stocks in the Indian stock market. Ten important sectors of the Indian economy are first selected. For each of these sectors, the top ten stocks are identified based on their free-float market capitalization values. Using the ten

We consider extended mean-field control problems with multi-dimensional singular controls. A key challenge when analysing singular controls are jump costs. When controls are one-dimensional, jump costs are most naturally computed by linear interpolation. When the controls are multi-dimensional the s

We study optimal reinsurance in the framework of stochastic game theory, in which there is an insurer and two reinsurers. A Stackelberg model is established to analyze the non-cooperative relationship between the insurer and reinsurers, where the insurer is considered as the follower and the reinsur

We study investment and insurance demand decisions for an agent in a theoretical continuous-time expected utility maximization model that combines risky assets with an (exogenous) insurable background risk. This risk takes the form of a jump-diffusion process with negative jumps in the return rate o

We study a model of clearing in an interbank network with crossholdings and default charges. Following the Eisenberg–Noe approach, we define the model via a set of natural financial regulations including those related with eventual default charges and derive a finite family of fixpoint problems. Th

We study a continuous-time Markowitz mean-variance portfolio selection model in which a naive agent, unaware of the underlying time-inconsistency, continuously reoptimizes over time. We define the resulting naive policies through the limit of discretely naive policies that are committed only in very

The minimum (worst case) value of a long-only portfolio of bonds, over a convex set of yield curves and spreads, can be estimated by its sensitivities to the points on the yield curve. We show that sensitivity based estimates are conservative, \ie, underestimate the worst case value, and that the ex

The tendency of the double auction mechanism to drive prices to competitive equilibrium has been well documented in laboratory experiments, but the phenomenon has lacked a theoretical explanation. This paper studies dynamic double auctions in a pure exchange economy where agents bid their indifferen

This paper investigates two optimal insurance contracting problems under distributional uncertainty from the perspective of a potential policyholder, utilizing a Bregman-Wasserstein (BW) ball to characterize the ambiguity set of loss distributions. Unlike the $p$-Wasserstein distance, BW divergence

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires represent a compound disaster resulting from the interactions between natural ecosystems and human settlements, characterized by significantly dynamic evolving risks. However, most current risk assessment studies are based on static frameworks, which struggle to

We develop a formalism for insurance profit optimisation for the in-force business constraint by regulatory and risk policy related requirements. This approach is applicable to Life, P&C and Reinsurance businesses and applies in all regulatory frameworks with a solvency requirement defined in the fo

An approximation method for construction of optimal strategies in the bid & ask limit order book in the high-frequency trading (HFT) is studied. The basis is the article by M. Avellaneda & S. Stoikov 2008, in which certain seemingly serious gaps have been found; in the present paper they are careful

We revisit the problem of portfolio selection, where an investor maximizes utility subject to a risk constraint. Our framework is very general and accommodates a wide range of utility and risk functionals, including non-concave utilities such as S-shaped utilities from prospect theory and non-convex

The frequent occurrence of natural disasters has posed significant challenges to society, necessitating the urgent development of effective risk management strategies. From the early informal community-based risk sharing mechanisms to modern formal index insurance products, risk management tools hav

We consider the problem of optimal investment with random endowment in a Black–Scholes market for an agent with constant relative risk aversion. Using duality arguments, we derive an explicit expression for the optimal trading strategy, which can be decomposed into the optimal strategy in the absenc

We introduce a new class of first passage time optimization driven by threshold resetting, inspired by many natural processes where crossing a critical limit triggers failure, degradation or transition. In here, search agents are collectively reset when a threshold is reached, creating event-driven,

Portfolio optimization is a critical area in finance, aiming to maximize returns while minimizing risk. Metaheuristic algorithms were shown to solve complex optimization problems efficiently, with Genetic Algorithms and Particle Swarm Optimization being among the most popular methods. This paper int

We introduce a novel approach to portfolio optimization that leverages hierarchical graph structures and the Schur complement method to systematically reduce computational complexity while preserving full covariance information. Inspired by Lopez de Prados hierarchical risk parity and Cottons Schur

We examine the problem of optimal portfolio allocation within the framework of utility theory. We apply exponential utility to derive the optimal diversification strategy and logarithmic utility to determine the optimal leverage. We enhance existing methodologies by incorporating compound probabilit

Triangular arbitrage is a profitable trading strategy in financial markets that exploits discrepancies in currency exchange rates. Traditional methods for detecting triangular arbitrage opportunities, such as exhaustive search algorithms and linear programming solvers, often suffer from high computa

Since the advent of generative artificial intelligence, every company and researcher has been rushing to develop their own generative models, whether commercial or not. Given the large number of users of these powerful new tools, there is currently no intrinsically verifiable way to explain from the

This paper studies a loss-averse version of the multiplicative habit formation preference and the corresponding optimal investment and consumption strategies over an infinite horizon. The agent’s consumption preference is depicted by a general S-shaped utility function of her consumption-to-habit ra

We engineer blockchain based risk managed portfolios by creating three funds with distinct risk and return profiles: 1) Alpha - high risk portfolio; 2) Beta - mimics the wider market; and 3) Gamma - represents the risk free rate adjusted to beat inflation. Each of the sub-funds (Alpha, Beta and Gamm

We aim to provide an intertemporal, cost-efficient consumption model that extends the consumption optimization inspired by the Distribution Builder, a tool developed by Sharpe, Johnson, and Goldstein. The Distribution Builder enables the recovery of investors’ risk preferences by allowing them to se

In this paper, we introduce a suite of models for price-aware automated market making platforms willing to optimize their quotes. These models incorporate advanced price dynamics, including stochastic volatility, jumps, and microstructural price models based on Hawkes processes. Additionally, we add

The Black-Litterman model is a framework for incorporating forward-looking expert views in a portfolio optimization problem. Existing work focuses almost exclusively on single-period problems with the forecast horizon matching that of the investor. We consider a generalization where the investor tra

In the ever evolving landscape of decentralized finance automated market makers (AMMs) play a key role: they provide a market place for trading assets in a decentralized manner. For so-called bluechip pairs, arbitrage activity provides a major part of the revenue generation of AMMs but also a major

This paper studies an optimal investment-consumption problem for competitive agents with exponential or power utilities and a common finite time horizon. Each agent regards the average of habit formation and wealth from all peers as benchmarks to evaluate the performance of her decision. We formulat

We give a new improvement over Newton’s method for root-finding, when the function in question is doubly differentiable. It generally exhibits faster and more reliable convergence. It can be also be thought of as a correction to Halley’s method, as this can exhibit undesirable behaviour.

We employ scoring functions, used in statistics for eliciting risk functionals, as cost functions in the Monge-Kantorovich (MK) optimal transport problem. This gives raise to a rich variety of novel asymmetric MK divergences, which subsume the family of Bregman-Wasserstein divergences. We show that

In this paper we model benchmark beating with the increasing convex order (ICX order). The mean constraint in the mean-variance theory of portfolio selection can be regarded as beating a constant. We then investigate the problem of minimizing the variance of a portfolio with ICX order constraints, b

We consider the problem of optimization of contributions of a financial planner such as a working individual towards a financial goal such as retirement. The objective of the planner is to find an optimal and feasible schedule of periodic installments to an investment portfolio set up towards the go

We study a reinsurer who faces multiple sources of model uncertainty. The reinsurer offers contracts to $n$ insurers whose claims follow compound Poisson processes representing both idiosyncratic and systemic sources of loss. As the reinsurer is uncertain about the insurers’ claim severity distribut

We investigate an expected utility maximization problem under model uncertainty in a one-period financial market. We capture model uncertainty by replacing the baseline model $\mathbb{P}$ with an adverse choice from a Wasserstein ball of radius $k$ around $\mathbb{P}$ in the space of probability mea

Focusing on gains & losses relative to a risk-free benchmark instead of terminal wealth, we consider an asset allocation problem to maximize time-consistently a mean-risk reward function with a general risk measure which is i) law-invariant, ii) cash- or shift-invariant, and iii) positively homogene

In this brief note, we prove that both forms of the Gerber statistic introduced in Gerber et al. (2022) are positive semi-definite.

Transaction costs play a critical role in asset allocation and consumption strategies in portfolio management. We apply the methods of dynamic programming and singular perturbation expansion to derive the closed-form leading solutions to this problem for small transaction costs with arbitrary transa

We study the expected utility portfolio optimization problem in an incomplete financial market where the risky asset dynamics depend on stochastic factors and the portfolio allocation is constrained to lie within a given convex set. We employ fundamental duality results from real constrained optimiz

Optimal investment strategies of an individual worker during the accumulation phase in the defined contribution pension scheme have been well studied in the literature. Most of them adopted the classical backward model and approach, but any pre-specifications of retirement time, preferences, and mar

This paper investigates a Stackelberg game between an insurer and a reinsurer under the $α$-maxmin mean-variance criterion. The insurer can purchase per-loss reinsurance from the reinsurer. With the insurer’s feedback reinsurance strategy, the reinsurer optimizes the reinsurance premium in the Stack

This paper extends the utility maximization literature by combining partial information and (robust) regulatory constraints. Partial information is characterized by the fact that the stock price itself is observable by the optimizing financial institution, but the outcome of the market price of the

This paper investigates dynamic and static fund separations and their stability for long-term optimal investments under three model classes. An investor maximizes the expected utility with constant relative risk aversion under an incomplete market consisting of a safe asset, several risky assets, an

Turnpike theorems state that if an investor’s utility is asymptotically equivalent to a power utility, then the optimal investment strategy converges to the CRRA strategy as the investment horizon tends to infinity. This paper aims to derive the convergence rates of the turnpike theorem for optimal

In this short note the theory for multivariate asset allocation with elliptically symmetric distributions of returns, as developed in the author’s prior work, is specialized to the case of returns drawn from a multivariate Laplace distribution. This analysis delivers a result closely, but not perfec

We consider a discrete-time robust utility maximisation with semistatic strategies, and the associated indifference prices of exotic options. For this purpose, we introduce a robust form of convex integral functionals on the space of bounded continuous functions on a Polish space, and establish some

In this manuscript we consider a class optimal control problem for stochastic differential delay equations. First, we rewrite the problem in a suitable infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. Then, using the dynamic programming approach, we characterize the value function of the problem as the unique vi

This paper introduces a heterogeneous macroeconomic model of a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) network to analyze the long-term centralizing effects of external traditional finance (TradFi) yields. We model a continuum of rational actors divided into two distinct classes: investors, who optimize portfolios bet

For independent multi-outcome events under multiplicative parlay pricing, we give a short exact proof of the optimal Kelly strategy using the implicit-cash viewpoint. The proof is entirely eventwise. One first solves each event in isolation. The full simultaneous optimizer over the entire menu of si

Stochastic resetting has attracted significant attention in recent years due to its wide-ranging applications across physics, biology, and search processes. In most existing studies, however, resetting events are governed by an external timer and remain decoupled from the system’s intrinsic dynamics

We revisit the well-studied superhedging problem under proportional transaction costs in continuous time using the recently developed tools of set-valued stochastic analysis. By relying on a simple Black-Scholes-type market model for mid-prices and using continuous trading schemes, we define a dynam

We study mean field portfolio games under Epstein-Zin preferences, which naturally encompass the classical time-additive power utility as a special case. In a general non-Markovian framework, we establish a uniqueness result by proving a one-to-one correspondence between Nash equilibria and the solu

Suppose $μ$ and $ν$ are probability measures on $\mathbb R$ satisfying $μ\leq_{cx} ν$. Let $a$ and $b$ be convex functions on $\mathbb R$ with $a \geq b \geq 0$. We are interested in finding [ \sup_{\mathcal M} \sup_τ \mathbb{E}^{\mathcal M} \left[ a(X) I_{ { τ= 1 } } + b(Y) I_{ { τ= 2 } } \rig

We consider a simplified model for optimizing a single-asset portfolio in the presence of transaction costs given a signal with a certain autocorrelation and cross-correlation structure. In our setup, the portfolio manager is given two one-parameter controls to influence the construction of the port

We consider multiperiod stochastic control problems with non-parametric uncertainty on the underlying probabilistic model. We derive a new metric on the space of probability measures, called the adapted $(p, \infty)$–Wasserstein distance $\mathcal{AW}_p^\infty$ with the following properties: (1) th

Stock return forecasting is a major component of numerous finance applications. Predicted stock returns can be incorporated into portfolio trading algorithms to make informed buy or sell decisions which can optimize returns. In such portfolio trading applications, the predictive performance of a tim

We consider a stock that follows a geometric Brownian motion (GBM) and a riskless asset continuously compounded at a constant rate. We assume that the stock can go bankrupt, i.e., lose all of its value, at some exogenous random time (independent of the stock price) modeled as the first arrival time

We study a martingale Schrödinger bridge problem: given two probability distributions, find their martingale coupling with minimal relative entropy. Our main result provides Schrödinger potentials for this coupling. Namely, under certain conditions, the log-density of the optimal coupling is given b

We extend the notion of forward performance criteria to settings with random endowment in incomplete markets. Building on these results, we introduce and develop the novel concept of \textit{“forward optimized certainty equivalent (forward OCE)”}, which offers a genuinely dynamic valuation mechanism

In this paper we study a time-inconsistent portfolio optimization problem for competitive agents with CARA utilities and non-exponential discounting. The utility of each agent depends on her own wealth and consumption as well as the relative wealth and consumption to her competitors. Due to the pres

We expose a simple solution of the consumption-investment problem pair trading. The proof is based on the remark that the HJB equation can be reduced to a linear parabolic equation solvable explicitly.

The paper explores the concept of the \emph{expectile risk measure} within the framework of the Fundamental Risk Quadrangle (FRQ) theory. According to the FRQ theory, a quadrangle comprises four stochastic functions associated with a random variable: error'', regret’’, risk'', and deviation'

This paper introduces a software component created in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) that can be applied for creating an optimal portfolio using two different methods. The first method is the seminal approach of Markowitz that is based on finding budget shares via the minimization of the varian

A typical approach to tackle stochastic control problems with partial observation is to separate the control and estimation tasks. However, it is well known that this separation generally fails to deliver an actual optimal solution for risk-sensitive control problems. This paper investigates the sep

This paper studies the monotone mean-variance (MMV) problem and the classical mean-variance (MV) problem with convex cone trading constraints in a market with random coefficients. We provide semiclosed optimal strategies and optimal values for both problems via certain backward stochastic differenti

This paper proposes a formal multi-agent architecture for implementing enterprise AI in regulated insurance firms, integrating economic theory with institutional design. The framework synthesises three core theoretical perspectives: Arrow’s risk pooling theory to formalise risk transformation under

Regulatory and contractual constraints on individual exposures are standard in insurance and reinsurance markets, but a poorly designed constraint can distort the economic incentives of risk-averse agents. In the unconstrained problem, the classical comonotonic improvement theorem guarantees Pareto-

We study the finite mutually exclusive outcome version of risk-constrained Kelly optimization with explicit state prices. The market has outcome probabilities $p_i>0$, state prices $q_i>0$, terminal wealths $W_i=c+x_i/q_i$, and a drawdown-surrogate constraint [ \sum_{i=1}^n p_i W_i^{-λ}\le 1,\qquad

In 1956 John Kelly wrote a paper at Bell Labs describing the relationship between gambling and Information Theory. What came to be known as the Kelly Criterion is both an objective and a closed-form solution to sizing wagers when odds and edge are known. Samuelson argued it was arbitrary and subject

An analytical solution to single-horizon asset allocation for an investor with a piecewise-linear utility function, called herein the “budget threshold utility,” and exogenous position limits is presented. The resulting functional form has a surprisingly simple structure and can be readily interpret

We consider a discrete-time model of a financial market where a risky asset is bought and sold with transactions having a transient price impact. It is shown that the corresponding utility maximization problem admits a solution. We manage to remove some unnatural restrictions on the market depth and

This study explored how advanced budgeting techniques and economic indicators influence funding levels and strategic alignment in California Community Colleges (CCCs). Despite widespread implementation of budgeting reforms, many CCCs continue to face challenges aligning financial planning with insti

Strassen’s theorem asserts that for given marginal probabilities $μ,ν$ there exists a martingale starting in $μ$ and terminating in $ν$ if and only if $μ,ν$ are in convex order. From a financial perspective, it guarantees the existence of market-consistent martingale pricing measures for arbitrage-f

Prediction models calibrated using historical data may forecast poorly if the dynamics of the present and future differ from observations in the past. For this reason, predictions can be improved if information like forward looking views about the state of the system are used to refine the forecast.

As restaking protocols gain adoption across blockchain ecosystems, there is a need for Actively Validated Services (AVSs) to span multiple Shared Security Providers (SSPs). This leads to stake fragmentation which introduces new complications where an adversary may compromise an AVS by targeting its

This paper explores the applications of the 20/60/20 rule-a heuristic method that segments data into top-performing, average-performing, and underperforming groups-in mathematical finance. We review the statistical foundations of this rule and demonstrate its usefulness in risk management and portfo

This review systematically examines deep learning applications in financial asset management. Unlike prior reviews, this study focuses on identifying emerging trends, such as the integration of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL), and their transformative

In this paper, we establish existence, uniqueness, and regularity properties of the solutions to multi-dimensional backward stochastic Volterra integral equations (BSVIEs), whose (possibly random) generator reflects nonlinear dependence on both the solution process and the martingale integrand compo

In economic analysis, rational decision-makers often take actions to reduce their risk exposure. These actions include purchasing market insurance and implementing prevention measures to modify the shape of the loss distribution. Under the assumption that the insureds’ actions are fully observed by

We study optimal payoff choice for an expected utility maximizer under the constraint that their payoff is not allowed to deviate ``too much’’ from a given benchmark. We solve this problem when the deviation is assessed via a Bregman-Wasserstein (BW) divergence, generated by a convex function $φ$. U

This article presents a mathematical model of dynamic pricing for real estate (RE) that incorporates multiple pricing groups, thereby expanding the capabilities of existing models. The developed model solves the problem of maximizing aggregate cumulative revenue at the end of the sales period while

This paper analyzes the equilibrium of insurance market in a dynamic setting, focusing on the interaction between insurers’ underwriting and investment strategies. Three possible equilibrium outcomes are identified: a positive insurance market, a zero insurance market, and market failure. Our findin

Portfolio selection problems that optimize expected utility are usually difficult to solve. If the number of assets in the portfolio is large, such expected utility maximization problems become even harder to solve numerically. Therefore, analytical expressions for optimal portfolios are always pref

Algorithmic trading or Financial robots have been conquering the stock markets with their ability to fathom complex statistical trading strategies. But with the recent development of deep learning technologies, these strategies are becoming impotent. The DQN and A2C models have previously outperform

This paper investigates the impact of distributional uncertainty on key risk measures under the partial knowledge of underlying distributions characterized by their first two moments and shape information (specifically symmetry and/or unimodality). We first employ probability inequalities to establi