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Machine learning in empirical asset pricing

Author

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  • Alois Weigand

    (University of St. Gallen)

Abstract

The tremendous speedup in computing in recent years, the low data storage costs of today, the availability of “big data” as well as the broad range of free open-source software, have created a renaissance in the application of machine learning techniques in science. However, this new wave of research is not limited to computer science or software engineering anymore. Among others, machine learning tools are now used in financial problem settings as well. Therefore, this paper mentions a specific definition of machine learning in an asset pricing context and elaborates on the usefulness of machine learning in this context. Most importantly, the literature review gives the reader a theoretical overview of the most recent academic studies in empirical asset pricing that employ machine learning techniques. Overall, the paper concludes that machine learning can offer benefits for future research. However, researchers should be critical about these methodologies as machine learning has its pitfalls and is relatively new to asset pricing.

Suggested Citation

  • Alois Weigand, 2019. "Machine learning in empirical asset pricing," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 33(1), pages 93-104, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:fmktpm:v:33:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11408-019-00326-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11408-019-00326-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Steven Y. K. Wong & Jennifer S. K. Chan & Lamiae Azizi & Richard Y. D. Xu, 2022. "Time‐varying neural network for stock return prediction," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 3-18, January.
    4. Yu, Baojun & Li, Changming & Mirza, Nawazish & Umar, Muhammad, 2022. "Forecasting credit ratings of decarbonized firms: Comparative assessment of machine learning models," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    5. Steven Y. K. Wong & Jennifer Chan & Lamiae Azizi & Richard Y. D. Xu, 2020. "Time-varying neural network for stock return prediction," Papers 2003.02515, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2021.
    6. Szczygielski, Jan Jakub & Charteris, Ailie & Bwanya, Princess Rutendo & Brzeszczyński, Janusz, 2023. "Which COVID-19 information really impacts stock markets?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    7. Hossein Hassani & Xu Huang & Emmanuel Silva & Mansi Ghodsi, 2020. "Deep Learning and Implementations in Banking," Annals of Data Science, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 433-446, September.
    8. Díaz, Juan D. & Hansen, Erwin & Cabrera, Gabriel, 2023. "Gold risk premium estimation with machine learning methods," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).

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