This paper deals with the estimation of portfolio returns and Value at Risk (VaR), by using a class of Gaussian mixture distributions. Asset return distributions are frequently assumed to follow a normal or lognormal distribution. It also can follow Brownian motion or Geometric Brownian motion...

Based on an idea in Backus, Foresi, and Telmer (1998) we extend the class of discrete-time affine multifactor Gaussian models by allowing factor innovations to be distributed as Gaussian mixtures. This is motivated by the observation that bond yield changes for some maturities are distinctly...