HomeReady-2-GoPortfolioRankingScreenerStockETFToolsCommunityHelp
ForumsEmail UserPollsFeature RequestsGroups


  Index  | Recent Threads  | Who's Online  | User List  | Search
  Search  
Quick Go »
Thread Status: Normal
Total posts in this thread: 9
[Request a Feature] [Post new Thread]
[Add To My Favorites] [Watch this Thread]
Author
Previous Thread This topic has been viewed 1197 times and has 8 replies Next Thread
probtrader
Advanced Member
Member's Avatar

ITALY
Joined: Oct 11, 2004
Posts: 109
Status: Offline
A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

This might be a little out of scope, but I thought others here could be interested in diversifying their equity portfolios:

Mebane Faber builds a portfolio composed of 5 different asset classes (REIT, bonds, US stocks, commodities, emerging markets) and sells (buy) each asset class when the index crosses below (above) its 10 months SMA. The result is a portfolio that never incurs a negative year since 1972 with a CAGR of 11.92% and a Sharpe of 1.2: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=962461.

I would like to backtest the strategy, including some variations I have in mind but I don't have access to Global Financial Data. I subscribed to Reuters Datalink but their data is only available from 2000. CSI could be an option but they don't have the specific indexes used by Faber. It's around $400 for 20 years of data subscribing to their budget bundle offer. Are there any other options? Ideally I would like to use the same indexes used by Faber:

+ Standard and Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500)
+ Morgan Stanley Capital International Developed Markets Index (MSCI EAFE)
+ Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI)
+ National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Index (NAREIT)
+ United States Government 10-Year Treasury Bonds

NAREIT historical data is available at http://www.nareit.com/library/domestic/monthly_indexes.cfm

Where can I find 20 years of data for MSCI EAFE, GSCI and 10-Year Govs?
[Sep 21, 2007 3:27:21 AM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
dwpeters
Advanced Member


UNITED STATES
Joined: Feb 10, 2007
Posts: 659
Status: Offline

Re: A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

Hi,
Yahoo Finance has data for a number of indices going back decades. I don't see exactly what you are looking for but they have the 10-yr treasury interest rate ^TNX and the DJ AIG Commodity index ^DJC. I didn't see historical data for EAFE but they have a number of indices under World Markets. Perhaps you can find something useful.

Don
[Sep 21, 2007 12:56:28 PM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
budonk
Advanced Member


UNITED STATES
Joined: Nov 18, 2004
Posts: 104
Status: Offline

Re: A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

You can get the data from GFD on a per series basis for relatively modest amounts. Or, you can travel to your local graduate business school and get it for free.

Thanks for the mention.

Meb
[Sep 21, 2007 1:04:36 PM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
probtrader
Advanced Member
Member's Avatar

ITALY
Joined: Oct 11, 2004
Posts: 109
Status: Offline
Re: A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

I'm still short of MSCI EAFE or another equivalent index with at least 15 years of historical data. I'm considering purchasing CSI data but strangely the EAFE is not included in their database.
[Sep 25, 2007 3:28:32 AM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
hvollmeier
Member


AUSTRIA
Joined: Apr 18, 2004
Posts: 3
Status: Offline

Re: A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

Proptrader,

you can download the MSCI EAFE and a bunch of other indices from:

http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/stdindex/performance.html

Monthly data for the MSCI EAFE is available back to 1969. Just click on the index you would like to download. First time users are required to register which is free.

Helmuth
[Sep 26, 2007 3:49:16 AM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
o806
Advanced Member


CANADA
Joined: May 8, 2006
Posts: 492
Status: Offline

Re: A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

If I remember correctly the Barna data is especially useful because one can get foreign indexes in local currency or in USD. If you are planning to do sector rotation you probably want to use foreign indexes in USD values (which I assume takes into account exchange variations).
[Sep 26, 2007 3:42:44 PM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
probtrader
Advanced Member
Member's Avatar

ITALY
Joined: Oct 11, 2004
Posts: 109
Status: Offline
Re: A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

Helmuth,
Thank you! I don't know how I missed that page on the Barra site.

Meb,
The last 4 years resulted in a lot of whipsawing in commodities and 10 years bonds. It makes the strategy look a bit impractical compared to the previous years. Did you use any filtering to reduce the number of signals?

I used Dow Jones AIG Commodities index in place of GSCI and TNX for govy notes.
----------------------------------------
Attachment DJC.png (14036 bytes) (Download Count: 115) (Dow Jones-AIG Commodities Index)

----------------------------------------
Attachment TNX.png (13987 bytes) (Download Count: 115) (10Y Treasury Notes)

----------------------------------------
[Edit 1 times, last edit by probtrader at Sep 27, 2007 10:52:36 AM]
[Sep 27, 2007 10:50:51 AM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
budonk
Advanced Member


UNITED STATES
Joined: Nov 18, 2004
Posts: 104
Status: Offline

Re: A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

I don't use the timing model on bonds unless they are levered up ie risk parity. It just doesn't make that much of a difference. Substituting more volatile bonds like high yield or emerging works better..

Whipshaws are a part of trendfollowing systems. There are measures to reduce whipshaws (such as a % filter around the moving average ie has to fall 1% below the MA to sell, then rise above the MA to buy) that can be effective.
[Sep 27, 2007 11:35:58 AM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
DennyHalwes
Advanced Member
Member's Avatar

UNITED STATES
Joined: Apr 28, 2004
Posts: 1532
Status: Offline
smile   Re: A simple asset allocation Reply to this Post
Reply with Quote

I prefer to just use a longer term moving average instead of a % filter on the moving average to reduce whipsaws. It is a little cleaner approach and a lot easier to back test. The tradeoff for reducing whipsaws is almost always reduced total return. So try a few different moving average lengths and pick the best compromise. Whipsaws come with the territory.

Denny cool
----------------------------------------
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that we were at when we created them". Albert Einstein
[Sep 27, 2007 11:20:47 PM] Show Post Printable Version     [Link] Report threaten post: please login first  Go to top 
[Show Thread Printable Version] [Post new Thread]

Free Trial  /  Log In
Username or Email
Password
Stay logged in
Can't remember username or password?