Dec

14

One definition of volatility is stdev of daily returns over a period. Using DJIA daily closes since 1929, partitioned the series into non-overlapping 10 trading-day periods. At the end of each 10D, calculated stdev of that period.

The attached graph plots 10D stdev over the whole series, with the familiar spikes corresponding to other volatility measures such as VIX and VXO. Note historically there are relatively few spikes with SD10 0.03, but when in the past they occurred (late 1920s/early 30s, late 30s, and early 2000s), there were other large spikes which followed. The notable exception is 1987, and of course the present because:

1. The future hasn't happened yet
2. The late Dr. Samuelson won the debate with the late Dr. Friedman, at least within our current Keynesian government

In attempt to quantify waits to next volatility spike after large spikes, defined a large spike as: (a maximum at the center of 17 - 10D periods) AND (>0.03). (a major spike which was the highest for 80 days in the past and 80 days in the future). The recent large volatility spike which peaked Oct 2008 was 0.057, 29 10D periods ago.

Once spikes >0.03 were identified, checked wait time until another spike >0.02 occurred. Here are the instances and the waits:

Date >0.03 nxt spike
10/17/08 0.057 ??
09/24/01 0.031 21
09/14/98 0.034 38
10/28/97 0.031 22
10/27/87 0.089 50
09/08/39 0.030 18
10/22/37 0.034 11
07/28/33 0.045 25
03/21/33 0.060 9
08/16/32 0.051 14
02/25/32 0.047 12
10/14/31 0.071 9
06/23/30 0.036 13
11/14/29 0.075 15

mean 19.8

Note the current wait of 29 10D periods is third longest, after 38 (1998) and 50 (1987).

So here we are, waiting for Godot.


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2 Comments so far

  1. korareddy on December 15, 2009 2:36 am

    a wannabe from India when playing with above Volo idea, is shocked and scared to find the least of those STDEV’s for NIFTY in this decade gets printed in the first week of Sep 01.

    Date Sort Ascend
    4-Sep-01 0.004335904
    1-Jan-03 0.004879801
    6-Sep-06 0.00513069
    20-Nov-06 0.005166573
    16-Sep-04 0.005320678
    18-Oct-02 0.005369611
    10-Sep-07 0.005408183
    16-Sep-05 0.005413891
    16-Nov-04 0.005642373
    25-Feb-05 0.005669699

  2. korareddy on January 13, 2010 9:45 am

    a wannabe from India is still playing with this volo idea, and fiddles with different 10 day periods and an ascend sort brings the following five

    7-Sep-01 0.004
    13-Jan-10 0.005
    21-Sep-05 0.005
    19-Nov-04 0.005
    6-Jan-03 0.006
    ???

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