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A Practical Guide to harnessing the HAR volatility model

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  • Clements, Adam
  • Preve, Daniel P.A.

Abstract

The standard heterogeneous autoregressive (HAR) model is perhaps the most popular benchmark model for forecasting return volatility. It is often estimated using raw realized variance (RV) and ordinary least squares (OLS). However, given the stylized facts of RV and well-known properties of OLS, this combination should be far from ideal. The aim of this paper is to investigate how the predictive accuracy of the HAR model depends on the choice of estimator, transformation, or combination scheme made by the market practitioner. In an out-of-sample study, covering the S&P 500 index and 26 frequently traded NYSE stocks, it is found that simple remedies systematically outperform not only standard HAR but also state of the art HARQ forecasts.

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  • Clements, Adam & Preve, Daniel P.A., 2021. "A Practical Guide to harnessing the HAR volatility model," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:133:y:2021:i:c:s0378426621002417
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2021.106285
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    2. Lyócsa, Štefan & Todorova, Neda & Výrost, Tomáš, 2021. "Predicting risk in energy markets: Low-frequency data still matter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
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    4. Chao Zhang & Xingyue Pu & Mihai Cucuringu & Xiaowen Dong, 2023. "Graph Neural Networks for Forecasting Multivariate Realized Volatility with Spillover Effects," Papers 2308.01419, arXiv.org.
    5. Qianjie Geng & Xianfeng Hao & Yudong Wang, 2024. "Forecasting the volatility of crude oil futures: A time‐dependent weighted least squares with regularization constraint," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 309-325, March.
    6. Lyócsa, Štefan & Plíhal, Tomáš & Výrost, Tomáš, 2021. "FX market volatility modelling: Can we use low-frequency data?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    7. Asgharian, Hossein & Christiansen, Charlotte & Hou, Ai Jun, 2023. "The effect of uncertainty on stock market volatility and correlation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Lyócsa, Štefan & Molnár, Peter & Výrost, Tomáš, 2021. "Stock market volatility forecasting: Do we need high-frequency data?," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 1092-1110.
    9. Jiawen Luo & Oguzhan Cepni & Riza Demirer & Rangan Gupta, 2022. "Forecasting Multivariate Volatilities with Exogenous Predictors: An Application to Industry Diversification Strategies," Working Papers 202258, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Volatility forecasting; Realized variance; HAR; HARQ; Robust regression; Weighted least squares; Box-Cox transformation; Forecast comparisons; QLIKE; MSE; VaR; Model confidence set;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • C58 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Financial Econometrics

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