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Optimal investment in ambiguous financial markets with learning

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  • Bäuerle, Nicole
  • Mahayni, Antje

Abstract

We consider the classical multi-asset Merton investment problem under drift uncertainty, i.e. the asset price dynamics are given by geometric Brownian motions with constant but unknown drift coefficients. The investor assumes a prior drift distribution and is able to learn by observing the asset prize realizations during the investment horizon. While the solution of an expected utility maximizing investor with constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) is well known, we consider the optimization problem under risk and ambiguity preferences by means of the KMM (Klibanoff et al., 2005) approach. Here, the investor maximizes a double certainty equivalent. The inner certainty equivalent is for given drift coefficient, the outer is based on a drift distribution. Assuming also a CRRA type ambiguity function, it turns out that the optimal strategy can be stated in terms of the solution without ambiguity preferences but an adjusted drift distribution. To the best of our knowledge an explicit solution method in this setting is new. We rely on some duality theorems to prove our statements.

Suggested Citation

  • Bäuerle, Nicole & Mahayni, Antje, 2024. "Optimal investment in ambiguous financial markets with learning," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 315(1), pages 393-410.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:315:y:2024:i:1:p:393-410
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2024.01.022
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