Enforcing asymptotic behavior with DNNs for approximation and regression in finance ArXiv ID: 2411.05257 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract We propose a simple methodology to approximate functions with given asymptotic behavior by specifically constructed terms and an unconstrained deep neural network (DNN). The methodology we describe extends to various asymptotic behaviors and multiple dimensions and is easy to implement. In this work we demonstrate it for linear asymptotic behavior in one-dimensional examples. We apply it to function approximation and regression problems where we measure approximation of only function values (Vanilla Machine Learning''-VML) or also approximation of function and derivative values (Differential Machine Learning’’-DML) on several examples. We see that enforcing given asymptotic behavior leads to better approximation and faster convergence. ...

Filling in Missing FX Implied Volatilities with Uncertainties: Improving VAE-Based Volatility Imputation ArXiv ID: 2411.05998 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract Missing data is a common problem in finance and often requires methods to fill in the gaps, or in other words, imputation. In this work, we focused on the imputation of missing implied volatilities for FX options. Prior work has used variational autoencoders (VAEs), a neural network-based approach, to solve this problem; however, using stronger classical baselines such as Heston with jumps can significantly outperform their results. We show that simple modifications to the architecture of the VAE lead to significant imputation performance improvements (e.g., in low missingness regimes, nearly cutting the error by half), removing the necessity of using $β$-VAEs. Further, we modify the VAE imputation algorithm in order to better handle the uncertainty in data, as well as to obtain accurate uncertainty estimates around imputed values. ...

How Wash Traders Exploit Market Conditions in Cryptocurrency Markets ArXiv ID: 2411.08720 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract Wash trading, the practice of simultaneously placing buy and sell orders for the same asset to inflate trading volume, has been prevalent in cryptocurrency markets. This paper investigates whether wash traders in Bitcoin act deliberately to exploit market conditions and identifies the characteristics of such manipulative behavior. Using a unique dataset of 18 million transactions from Mt. Gox, once the largest Bitcoin exchange, I find that wash trading intensifies when legitimate trading volume is low and diminishes when it is high, indicating strategic timing to maximize impact in less liquid markets. The activity also exhibits spillover effects across platforms and decreases when trading volumes in other asset classes like stocks or gold rise, suggesting sensitivity to broader market dynamics. Additionally, wash traders exploit periods of heightened media attention and online rumors to amplify their influence, causing rapid but short-lived spikes in legitimate trading volume. Using an exogenous demand shock associated with illicit online marketplaces, I find that wash trading responds to contemporaneous events affecting Bitcoin demand. These results advance the understanding of manipulative practices in digital currency markets and have significant implications for regulators aiming to detect and prevent wash trading. ...

Multi-asset and generalised Local Volatility. An efficient implementation ArXiv ID: 2411.05425 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract This article presents a generic hybrid numerical method to price a wide range of options on one or several assets, as well as assets with stochastic drift or volatility. In particular for equity and interest rate hybrid with local volatility. Keywords: Hybrid Numerical Method, Option Pricing, Local Volatility, Stochastic Drift, Monte Carlo Simulation, Equity and Interest Rate Hybrids ...

Optimal reinsurance and investment via stochastic projected gradient method based on Malliavin calculus ArXiv ID: 2411.05417 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract This paper proposes a new approach using the stochastic projected gradient method and Malliavin calculus for optimal reinsurance and investment strategies. Unlike traditional methodologies, we aim to optimize static investment and reinsurance strategies by directly minimizing the ruin probability. Furthermore, we provide a convergence analysis of the stochastic projected gradient method for general constrained optimization problems whose objective function has Hölder continuous gradient. Numerical experiments show the effectiveness of our proposed method. ...

Enhancing Investment Analysis: Optimizing AI-Agent Collaboration in Financial Research ArXiv ID: 2411.04788 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract In recent years, the application of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in financial analysis and investment decision-making has gained significant attention. However, most existing approaches rely on single-agent systems, which fail to fully utilize the collaborative potential of multiple AI agents. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-agent collaboration system designed to enhance decision-making in financial investment research. The system incorporates agent groups with both configurable group sizes and collaboration structures to leverage the strengths of each agent group type. By utilizing a sub-optimal combination strategy, the system dynamically adapts to varying market conditions and investment scenarios, optimizing performance across different tasks. We focus on three sub-tasks: fundamentals, market sentiment, and risk analysis, by analyzing the 2023 SEC 10-K forms of 30 companies listed on the Dow Jones Index. Our findings reveal significant performance variations based on the configurations of AI agents for different tasks. The results demonstrate that our multi-agent collaboration system outperforms traditional single-agent models, offering improved accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability in complex financial environments. This study highlights the potential of multi-agent systems in transforming financial analysis and investment decision-making by integrating diverse analytical perspectives. ...

Optimal Execution under Incomplete Information ArXiv ID: 2411.04616 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract We study optimal liquidation strategies under partial information for a single asset within a finite time horizon. We propose a model tailored for high-frequency trading, capturing price formation driven solely by order flow through mutually stimulating marked Hawkes processes. The model assumes a limit order book framework, accounting for both permanent price impact and transient market impact. Importantly, we incorporate liquidity as a hidden Markov process, influencing the intensities of the point processes governing bid and ask prices. Within this setting, we formulate the optimal liquidation problem as an impulse control problem. We elucidate the dynamics of the hidden Markov chain’s filter and determine the related normalized filtering equations. We then express the value function as the limit of a sequence of auxiliary continuous functions, defined recursively. This characterization enables the use of a dynamic programming principle for optimal stopping problems and the determination of an optimal strategy. It also facilitates the development of an implementable algorithm to approximate the original liquidation problem. We enrich our analysis with numerical results and visualizations of candidate optimal strategies. ...

The Role of AI in Financial Forecasting: ChatGPT’s Potential and Challenges ArXiv ID: 2411.13562 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract The outlook for the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial sector, especially in financial forecasting, the challenges and implications. The dynamics of AI technology, including deep learning, reinforcement learning, and integration with blockchAIn and the Internet of Things, also highlight the continued improvement in data processing capabilities. Explore how AI is reshaping financial services with precisely tAIlored services that can more precisely meet the diverse needs of individual investors. The integration of AI challenges regulatory and ethical issues in the financial sector, as well as the implications for data privacy protection. Analyze the limitations of current AI technology in financial forecasting and its potential impact on the future financial industry landscape, including changes in the job market, the emergence of new financial institutions, and user interface innovations. Emphasizing the importance of increasing investor understanding and awareness of AI and looking ahead to future trends in AI tools for user experience to drive wider adoption of AI in financial decision making. The huge potential, challenges, and future directions of AI in the financial sector highlight the critical role of AI technology in driving transformation and innovation in the financial sector ...

Composing Ensembles of Instrument-Model Pairs for Optimizing Profitability in Algorithmic Trading ArXiv ID: 2411.13559 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract Financial markets are nonlinear with complexity, where different types of assets are traded between buyers and sellers, each having a view to maximize their Return on Investment (ROI). Forecasting market trends is a challenging task since various factors like stock-specific news, company profiles, public sentiments, and global economic conditions influence them. This paper describes a daily price directional predictive system of financial instruments, addressing the difficulty of predicting short-term price movements. This paper will introduce the development of a novel trading system methodology by proposing a two-layer Composing Ensembles architecture, optimized through grid search, to predict whether the price will rise or fall the next day. This strategy was back-tested on a wide range of financial instruments and time frames, demonstrating an improvement of 20% over the benchmark, representing a standard investment strategy. ...

Corporate Fundamentals and Stock Price Co-Movement ArXiv ID: 2411.03922 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract We introduce an innovative framework that leverages advanced big data techniques to analyze dynamic co-movement between stocks and their underlying fundamentals using high-frequency stock market data. Our method identifies leading co-movement stocks through four distinct regression models: Forecast Error Variance Decomposition, transaction volume-normalized FEVD, Granger causality test frequency, and Granger causality test days. Validated using Chinese banking sector stocks, our framework uncovers complex relationships between stock price co-movements and fundamental characteristics, demonstrating its robustness and wide applicability across various sectors and markets. This approach not only enhances our understanding of market dynamics but also provides actionable insights for investors and policymakers, helping to mitigate broader market volatilities and improve financial stability. Our model indicates that banks’ influence on their peers is significantly affected by their wealth management business, interbank activities, equity multiplier, non-performing loans, regulatory requirements, and reserve requirement ratios. This aids in mitigating the impact of broader market volatilities and provides deep insights into the unique influence of banks within the financial ecosystem. ...