Portfolio Optimization and Asset Allocation With Metaheuristics: A Review

Introduction

Portfolio optimization or asset allocation is found to be of immense importance within classical investigation issues within financial philosophy along with operations research. Managing funds and their optimum allocation by selecting an optimal portfolio is an all-time problem been faced by the financial organizations like Banks, insurance companies, and fund management organizations. Markowitz (1952) is the pioneer in this research domain propounding the mean-variance portfolio model established over quadratic optimization issue based on linear restraints. Numerous theoretical progresses been tried for developing Markowitz model and resolving it, alluding to mathematical modeling techniques. Researches done by Nishimura (1990), Figueroa-Lopez (2005) and Bolshakova et al., (2009) furnish elaborate information on these advances. The model still experienced efficiency in its applicability to real life scenarios. Actually, the progress been done to this model with the usage of transaction costs, complex constraints and by the usage of alternative objective function creates more complexities to the model thereby making it much more computationally improbable. Thus by the usage of numerous classical optimization techniques for solving similar pattern of issues some mathematical conditions can be executed. If any objective function and restraints are indicated by a linear function of conclusion variables then, linear programming proves to be feasible in that case. Further, applicability of non-linear programming can be done in the case of nonlinear objective function and constraints. To a matter of regret these classical methods become outmoded in any situation experienced which usually involve single or additional complications. Viz. the objective function can become non-homogeneous, or is impossible to be expressed analytically in terms of the specifications, or else the issues may desire further cogitation of dual or numerous conflicting purposes which in turn is defined as multi-objective optimization procedure.

The evolution of an advanced category of optimization techniques, named as Metaheuristics, imprint a tremendous revolution in the terrain of optimization. The approaches are pertinent in every category of combinatorial issues, and even proving to be suitable to continuous issues or problems. They let on researchers in finding an adequate result customarily along with a legitimate computational time frame, in spite of assuring the optimality of acquired resolution. Metaheuristic techniques happen to be most fortunately utilized for resolving huge issues. These techniques can be prorated within dual categories. At the begining, the particular algorithms are outlined by the usage of understanding realm for a stated problem. Next, the common or accepted algorithms can be utilized for far-reaching sort of problems. Subsequently, numerous research studies targeted on the portfolio optimization problem have been initiated for the application of the meta-heuristics in determining practical solutions and conquering the complications of the stated problems.

This chapter targets in acquiring the knowledge about the practice of Metaheuristic optimization approaches meant both for the single-objective as well as the multi-objective issues altogether and its utilization within the portfolio optimization. This review work is fragmented into three sections exploring the principal methods of mono-objective Metaheuristics and their usage in portfolio optimization domain, investigating the principal system of multi-objective Metaheuristics and its utilization within portfolio optimization problem and finally concluding.