Computational Aspects of Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average Models

We discuss computational aspects of likelihood-based estimation of univariate ARFIMA (p,d,q) models. We show how efficient computation and simulation is feasible, even for large samples. We also discuss the implementation of analytical bias corrections.Long memory, Bias, Modified profile likelihood, Restricted maximum likelihood estimator, Time-series regression model likelihood

Outlier Detection in GARCH Models

We present a new procedure for detecting multiple additive outliers in GARCH(1,1) models at unknown dates. The outlier candidates are the observations with the largest standardized residual. First, a likelihood-ratio based test determines the presence and timing of an outlier. Next, a second test determines the type of additive outlier (volatility or level). The tests are shown to be similar with respect to the GARCH parameters. Their null distribution can be easily approximated from an extreme value distribution, so that computation of p-values does not require simulation. The procedure outperforms alternative methods, especially when it comes to determining the date of the outlier. We apply the method to returns of the Dow Jones index, using monthly, weekly, and daily data. The procedure is extended and applied to GARCH models with Student-t distributed errors.

Multimodality in the GARCH Regression Model

Several aspects of GARCH(p,q) models that are relevant for empirical applications are investigated. In particular, it is noted that the inclusion of dummy variables as regressors can lead to multimodality in the GARCH likelihood. This invalidates standard inference on the estimated coefficients. Next, the implementation of different restrictions on the GARCH parameter space is considered. A refinement to the Nelson and Cao (1992) conditions for a GARCH(2,q) model is presented, and it is shown how these can then be implemented by parameter transformations. It is argued that these conditions may also be too restrictive, and a simpler alternative is introduced which is formulated in terms of the unconditional variance. Finally, examples show that multimodality is a real concern for models of the £/$ exchange rate, especially when p>2.Dummy variable, EGARCH, GARCH, Multimodality.

Multimodality and the GARCH Likelihood

We investigate several aspects of GARCH models which are relevant for empirical applications. In particular, we note that the inclusion of a dummy variable as regressor can lead to multimodality in the GARCH likelihood. This makes standard inference on the estimated coefficient impossible. Next, we investigate the implementation of different restrictions on the GARCH parameter space. We present a small refinement to the Nelson and Cao (1992) conditions for a GARCH(2,q) model, and show how these can be implemented by parameter transformations. We argue that these conditions are also too restrictive, and consider restrictions which are formulated in terms of the unconditional variance. These are easier to work with and understand. Finally, we show that multimodality is a real concern for models of the pound/dollar exchange rate, and should be taken account of, especially when p>=2.

Periodic Heteroskedastic RegARFIMA models for daily electricity spot prices

In this paper we consider different periodic extensions of regression models with autoregressive fractionally integrated moving average disturbances for the analysis of daily spot prices of electricity. We show that day-of-the-week periodicity and long memory are important determinants for the dynamic modelling of the conditional mean of electricity spot prices. Once an effective description of the conditional mean of spot prices is empirically identified, focus can be directed towards volatility features of the time series. For the older electricity market of Nord Pool in Norway, it is found that a long memory model with periodic coefficients is required to model daily spot prices effectively. Further, strong evidence of conditional heteroskedasticity is found in the mean corrected Nord Pool series. For daily prices at three emerging electricity markets that we consider (APX in The Netherlands, EEX in Germany and Powernext in France) periodicity in the autoregressive coefficients is also stablished, but evidence of long memory is not found and existence of dynamic behaviour in the variance of the spot prices is less pronounced. The novel findings in this paper can have important consequences for the modelling and forecasting of mean and variance functions of spot prices for electricity and associated contingent assetsGARCH, Long Memory

A Note on the Effect of Seasonal Dummies on the Periodogram Regression

We discuss how prior regression on seasonal dummies leads to singularities in periodogram regression procedures for the detection of long memory. We suggest a modified procedure. We illustrate the problems using monthly inflation data from Hassler and Wolters (1995)

Forecasting Daily Time Series using Periodic Unobserved Components Time Series Models

We explore a periodic analysis in the context of unobserved components time series models that decompose time series into components of interest such as trend and seasonal. Periodic time series models allow dynamic characteristics to depend on the period of the year, month, week or day. In the standard multivariate approach one can interpret periodic time series modelling as a simultaneous analysis of a set of, traditionally, yearly time series where each series is related to a particular season, with a time index in years. Our analysis applies to monthly vector time series related to each day of the month. We focus on forecasting performance and the underlying periodic forecast function, defined by the in-sample observation weights for producing (multi-step) forecasts. These weights facilitate the interpretation of periodic model extensions. We take a statistical state space approach to estimate our model, so that we can identify stochastic unobserved components and we can deal with irregularly spaced time series. We extend existing algorithms to compute observation weights for forecasting based on state space models with regressor variables. Our methods are illustrated by an application to time series of clearly periodic daily Dutch tax revenues. The dimension of our model is large as we allow the time series for each day of the month to be subject to a changing seasonal pattern. Nevertheless, even with only five years of data we find that increased periodic flexibility helps help in simulated out-of-sample forecasting for two extra years of data

Long Memory Modelling of Inflation with Stochastic Variance and Structural Breaks

We investigate changes in the time series characteristics of postwar U.S. inflation. In a model-based analysis the conditional mean of inflation is specified by a long memory autoregressive fractionally integrated moving average process and the conditional variance is modelled by a stochastic volatility process. We develop a Monte Carlo maximum likelihood method to obtain efficient estimates of the parameters using a monthly data-set of core inflation for which we consider different subsamples of varying size. Based on the new modelling framework and the associated estimation technique, we find remarkable changes in the variance, in the order of integration, in the short memory characteristics and in the volatility of volatility

Statistical Software for State Space Methods

In this paper we review the state space approach to time series analysis and establish the notation that is adopted in this special volume of the Journal of Statistical Software. We first provide some background on the history of state space methods for the analysis of time series. This is followed by a concise overview of linear Gaussian state space analysis including the modelling framework and appropriate estimation methods. We discuss the important class of unobserved component models which incorporate a trend, a seasonal, a cycle, and fixed explanatory and intervention variables for the univariate and multivariate analysis of time series. We continue the discussion by presenting methods for the computation of different estimates for the unobserved state vector: filtering, prediction, and smoothing. Estimation approaches for the other parameters in the model are also considered. Next, we discuss how the estimation procedures can be used for constructing confidence intervals, detecting outlier observations and structural breaks, and testing model assumptions of residual independence, homoscedasticity, and normality. We then show how ARIMA and ARIMA components models fit in the state space framework to time series analysis. We also provide a basic introduction for non-Gaussian state space models. Finally, we present an overview of the software tools currently available for the analysis of time series with state space methods as they are discussed in the other contributions to this special volume.