Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2001, Volume 1988/2001, 201-230, DOI: 10.1007/3-540-45262-1_29

The Min-Max Portfolio Optimization Strategy: An Empirical Study on Balanced Portfolios

Claude Diderich and Wolfgang Marty

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Abstract

Modern investment processes often use quantitative models based on Markowitz’s mean-variance approach for determining optimal portfolio holdings. A major drawback of using such techniques is that the optimality of the portfolio structure only holds with respect to a single set of expected returns. Becker, Marty, and Rustem introduced the robust min-max portfolio optimization strategy to overcome this drawback. It computes portfolio holdings that guarantee a worst case risk/return tradeo. whichever of the specified scenarios occurs. In this paper we extend the approach to include transaction costs. We illustrate the advantages of the min-max strategy on balanced portfolios. The importance of considering transaction costs when rebalancing portfolios is shown. The experimental results illustrate how a portfolio can be insured against a possible loss without sacrificing too much upside potential.
The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Credit Suisse Asset Management.

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