Title
Estimating the Algorithmic Complexity of Stock Markets
Abstract
Randomness and regularities in finance are usually treated in probabilistic terms. In this paper, we develop a different approach in using a non-probabilistic framework based on the algorithmic information theory initially developed by Kolmogorov (1965). We develop a generic method to estimate the Kolmogorov complexity of numeric series. This approach is based on an iterative "regularity erasing procedure" (REP) implemented to use lossless compression algorithms on financial data. The REP is found to be necessary to detect hidden structures, as one should "wash out" well-established financial patterns (i.e. stylized facts) to prevent algorithmic tools from concentrating on these non-profitable patterns. The main contribution of this article is methodological: we show that some structural regularities, invisible with classical statistical tests, can be detected by this algorithmic method. Our final illustration on the daily Dow-Jones Index reveals a weak compression rate, once well-known regularities are removed from the raw data. This result could be associated to a high efficiency level of the New York Stock Exchange, although more effective algorithmic tools could improve this compression rate on detecting new structures in the future.
Year
DOI
Venue
2015
10.3233/AF-150052
ALGORITHMIC FINANCE
Keywords
Field
DocType
Kolmogorov complexity,return,efficiency,compression
Algorithmic information theory,Kolmogorov complexity,Algorithm,Probabilistic logic,Algorithmic complexity,Statistical hypothesis testing,Mathematics,Randomness,Lossless compression
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
4
3-4
2158-5571
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
4
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Olivier Brandouy1185.13
Jean-Paul Delahaye232554.60
Lin Ma300.34