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An investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks

This dissertation highlights the importance of considering higher moments and partial moments of the distribution when conducting portfolio optimisation and selection. This is due partly to the weaknesses of mean-variance optimisation, as discussed throughout the dissertation, and the appropriatenes...

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Main Author: Polden, Stuart John
Other Authors: Rajaratnam, Kanshukan
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Finance and Tax 2020
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access_status_str Open Access
author Polden, Stuart John
author2 Rajaratnam, Kanshukan
author_browse Polden, Stuart John
Rajaratnam, Kanshukan
author_facet Rajaratnam, Kanshukan
Polden, Stuart John
author_sort Polden, Stuart John
collection Thesis
description This dissertation highlights the importance of considering higher moments and partial moments of the distribution when conducting portfolio optimisation and selection. This is due partly to the weaknesses of mean-variance optimisation, as discussed throughout the dissertation, and the appropriateness of considering higher moments to better meet the investors utility functions. This dissertation investigates the usage of two bi-objective optimisation frameworks, a Skewness/Semivariance framework previously suggested by Brito et al (2016), and a proposed upside and downside semivariance framework (referred to as Semivariance/Semivariance), developed from Cumova and Nawrocki’s (2014) general upper partial and lower partial moment framework. It solves the endogeneity issue present in the co-semivariance matrices, through the usage of a direct multi-search algorithm. The two frameworks were tested across multiple datasets, including one of pure stocks and one of asset classes, to test the ability to both allocate assets and select stocks. The performance was measured through nominal returns, statistical tests, Sharpe ratios, Sortino ratios, and Skewness/Semivariance ratios. The results reveal the Semivariance/Semivariance optimisation process to outperform the Skewness/Semivariance optimisation in the majority of the cases investigated. This suggests it may be a superior selection optimisation process. Furthermore, the Semivariance/Semivariance portfolios remain competitive with the benchmark portfolios selected in this dissertation, often outperforming them on an absolute return and ratio basis; however, this outperformance has not consistently proven to be statistically significant.
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last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:32:29.432Z
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provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2020
publishDateRange 2020
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publisher Department of Finance and Tax
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/30878 An investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks Polden, Stuart John Rajaratnam, Kanshukan Investment Management This dissertation highlights the importance of considering higher moments and partial moments of the distribution when conducting portfolio optimisation and selection. This is due partly to the weaknesses of mean-variance optimisation, as discussed throughout the dissertation, and the appropriateness of considering higher moments to better meet the investors utility functions. This dissertation investigates the usage of two bi-objective optimisation frameworks, a Skewness/Semivariance framework previously suggested by Brito et al (2016), and a proposed upside and downside semivariance framework (referred to as Semivariance/Semivariance), developed from Cumova and Nawrocki’s (2014) general upper partial and lower partial moment framework. It solves the endogeneity issue present in the co-semivariance matrices, through the usage of a direct multi-search algorithm. The two frameworks were tested across multiple datasets, including one of pure stocks and one of asset classes, to test the ability to both allocate assets and select stocks. The performance was measured through nominal returns, statistical tests, Sharpe ratios, Sortino ratios, and Skewness/Semivariance ratios. The results reveal the Semivariance/Semivariance optimisation process to outperform the Skewness/Semivariance optimisation in the majority of the cases investigated. This suggests it may be a superior selection optimisation process. Furthermore, the Semivariance/Semivariance portfolios remain competitive with the benchmark portfolios selected in this dissertation, often outperforming them on an absolute return and ratio basis; however, this outperformance has not consistently proven to be statistically significant. 2020-02-06T08:15:56Z 2020-02-06T08:15:56Z 2019 2020-02-04T07:59:46Z Master Thesis Masters MCom http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30878 eng application/pdf Department of Finance and Tax Faculty of Commerce
spellingShingle Investment Management
Polden, Stuart John
An investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks
thesis_degree_str Master's
title An investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks
title_full An investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks
title_fullStr An investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks
title_full_unstemmed An investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks
title_short An investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks
title_sort investigation into higher and partial moment portfolio selection frameworks
topic Investment Management
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30878
work_keys_str_mv AT poldenstuartjohn aninvestigationintohigherandpartialmomentportfolioselectionframeworks
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