Mean-reverting 4/2 principal components model: Financial applications

In this paper, we propose a new multivariate mean-reverting model incorporating state-of-the art 4/2 stochastic volatility and a convenient principal component stochastic volatility (PCSV) decomposition for the stochastic covariance. We find a quasi closed-form characteristic function and propose analytic approximations, which aid in the pricing of derivatives and calculation of risk measures. Parameters are estimated on three bivariate series, using a two-stage methodology involving method of moments and least squares. Moreover, a scaling factor is added for extra degrees of freedom to match data features. As an application, we consider investment strategies for a portfolio with two risky assets and a risk-free cash account. We calculate value-at-risk (VaR) values at a 95% risk level using both simulation-based and distribution-based methods. A comparison of these VaR values supports the effectiveness of our approximations and the potential for higher dimensions.