Backtesting value-at-risk based on tail losses

Wong, W. K. print (2010) Backtesting value-at-risk based on tail losses. Journal of Empirical Finance, 17 (3). pp. 526-538. ISSN 0927-5398

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jempfin.2009.11.004

Abstract

Extreme losses caused by leverage and financial derivatives highlight the need to backtest Value-at-Risk (VaR) based on the sizes of tail losses, because the risk measure currently used disregards losses beyond the VaR boundary. While Basel II backtests VaR by counting the number of exceptions, this paper proposes to use the saddlepoint technique by summing the sizes of tail losses. Monte Carlo simulations show that the technique is extremely accurate and powerful, even for small samples. Empirical applications for the proposed backtest find substantial downside tail risks in S&P 500, and demonstrate that risk models which account for jumps, skewed and fat-tailed distributions failed to capture the tail risk during the 1987 stock market crash. Finally, the saddlepoint technique is used to derive a multiplication factor for any risk capital requirement that is responsive to the sizes of tail losses.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	value-at-risk, tail risk, backtesting, risk management, risk capital
Faculty/Department:	Faculty of Business and Law > Department of Business Management ~Pre-2010 Faculty Structure > Bristol Business School > Centre for Global Finance ~Pre-2012 Faculty Structure > Faculty of Business and Law > Department of Business and Management ~Pre-2012 Faculty Structure > Faculty of Business and Law > Centre for Global Finance
ID Code:	12175
Deposited By:	Dr W. print Wong
Deposited On:	06 Jan 2011 11:28
Last Modified:	22 Nov 2012 15:43