Time Series Analysis

Time-Series Numerical data obtained at regular time intervals The time intervals can be annually, quarterly, monthly, daily, hourly, etc. YearSales

Time-Series Components Time-Series Cyclical Random Trend Seasonal

Inherent in the collection of data taken over time is some form of random variation. “Moving Average or Smoothing ” is a technique used for reducing of or canceling the effect due to random variation. “Smoothing” data removes random variation and shows trends and cyclic components

Random or Irregular Component Nonsystematic, random, fluctuations Due to random variations of –Nature –Accidents Short duration and non-repeating

Upward trend Trend Component Overall upward or downward movement Data taken over a period of years Sales Time

Cyclical Component Upward or downward swings May vary in length Usually lasts years Sales 1 Cycle

Seasonal Component Upward or downward swings Regular patterns Observed within 1 year Sales Time (Monthly or Quarterly) Winter Spring Summer Fall Winter

Taking averages is the simplest way to smooth data. Moving averages smooth out a data series and make it easier to identify the direction of the trend. Because past price data is used to form moving averages, they are considered lagging, or trend following, indicators. Moving averages will not predict a change in trend, but rather follow behind the current trend. Therefore, they are best suited for trend identification and trend following purposes, not for prediction.

A manager of a warehouse wants to know how much a typical supplier delivers in 1000 dollar units. He/she takes a sample of 12 suppliers, at random, obtaining the following results:

SupplierAmountSupplierAmount

The estimator with the smallest MSE is the best. It can be shown mathematically that the estimator that minimizes the MSE for a set of random data is the mean.

Next we will examine the mean to see how well it predicts net income over time? The next table gives the income before taxes of APC manufacturer between 1985 and 1994.

Because of the limitations of the simple average we use Moving A verages which are developed based on an average of weighted observations. MA tends to smooth out short-term irregularity in the data series. They are useful if the data series remains fairly steady over time.

Moving average depends on the span (period). If span is 6 months for monthly data then, the month’s predicted value is the average of the most recent 6 months. The average of Jan thru June will be used to predict July. The longer the span the better the smoothing.

Moving averages are one of the most popular and easy to use tools available to the technical analyst. They smooth a data series and make it easier to spot trends, something that is especially helpful in volatile markets.

Example of Quarterly Retail Sales with Seasonal Components

Example of Quarterly Retail Sales with Seasonal Components Removed

Multiplicative Time-Series Model Used primarily for forecasting Observed value in time series is the product of components For annual data: For quarterly or monthly data: T i = Trend C i = Cyclical I i = Irregular S i = Seasonal

The moving-average method provides an efficient mechanism for obtaining a value for forecasting stationary time series. The method is effective when there is random demand and no seasonal fluctuations in the data. It is a popular technique for short-run forecasting by business forecasters.

Moving averages come in various forms, but their underlying purpose remains the same: to help technical traders track the trends of financial assets by smoothing out the day- to-day price fluctuations, or noise. By identifying trends, moving averages allow traders to make those trends work in their favor and increase the number of winning trades.

Moving Averages Example: Three-year moving average –First average: –Second average: (continued)

Moving Average Example Year Units Moving Ave NA NA Mohammed is a building contractor who has constructed 24 single-family homes over a six-year period. Provide Mohammed with a three-year Moving Average Graph.

Moving Average Example Solution Year Response Moving Ave NA NA Sales L = 3 No MA for the first and last (L-1)/2 years

This simple illustration highlights the fact that all moving averages are lagging indicators and will always be "behind" the price of stock. If the close prices were rising, the SMA would most likely be below. Because moving averages are lagging indicators, they fit in the category of trend following indicators. When prices are trending, moving averages work well. However, when prices are not trending, moving averages can give misleading signals.

In order to reduce the lag in simple moving averages, technicians often use exponential moving averages (also called exponentially weighted moving averages). EMA's reduce the lag by applying more weight to recent prices relative to older prices.

Exponential Smoothing Weighted moving average Most recent observation weighted most Used for smoothing and short term forecasting Weights are: –Subjectively chosen –Ranges from 0 to 1

Exponential Weight: Example Year Response Smoothing Value, Ei Forecast (W =.2, (1-W)=.8) NA (.2)(5) + (.8)(2) = (.2)(2) + (.8)(2.6) = (.2)(2) + (.8)(2.48) = (.2)(7) + (.8)(2.384) = (.2)(6) + (.8)(3.307) =

Exponential Weight: Example Graph Sales Year Data Smoothed

Exponential Smoothing in Excel Use tools | data analysis | exponential smoothing –The damping factor is (1-W ) Excel spreadsheet for the Exponential

Trend-Following Indicator Moving averages smooth out a data series and make it easier to identify the direction of the trend. Because past price data is used to form moving averages, they are considered lagging, or trend following, indicators. Moving averages will not predict a change in trend, but rather follow behind the current trend. Therefore, they are best suited for trend identification and trend following purposes, not for prediction.

When to Use Because moving averages follow the trend, they work best when a security is trending and are ineffective when a security moves in a trading range. With this in mind, investors and traders should first identify securities that display some trending characteristics before attempting to analyze with moving averages.

In its simplest form, a security's price can be doing only one of three things: trending up, trending down or trading in a range. An uptrend is established when a security forms a series of higher highs and higher lows. A downtrend is established when a security forms a series of lower lows and lower highs. A trading range is established if a security cannot establish an uptrend or downtrend.

Moving Averages Moving averages are used to smooth out short-term fluctuations, thus highlighting longer-term trends or cycles.Moving averages are used to smooth out short-term fluctuations, thus highlighting longer-term trends or cycles. moving average levels are interpreted as support in a rising market, or resistance in a falling market. One of the most- common and best-known trading strategies is this: "Buy at the support level and sell at the resistance level."supportresistance Typically, upward momentum is confirmed when a short-term average (e.g.15-day) crosses above a longer-term average (e.g. 50-day). Downward momentum is confirmed when a short-term average crosses below a long-term average If current prices (15-day SMA) are moving above longer term prices (50-day SMA), these are indicative of buying momentum. The reverse would be indicative of selling momentum.

Resistance Level "Resistance Level" is just the opposite. Here, the strategy is to short sell the stock near the resistance level, monitor it closely, and buy it to cut loss if it breaks meaningfully higher than the resistance level. If the resistance level indeed prevents the stock price from going up and it starts to bounce back down,

The support level Imagine on a given day, a stock is traded very heavily at a certain price level. Also imagine that many traders remember this price level because they bought or sold the stock at this level. Next, suppose that the stock price first moves up away from this level and, later on, the stock price trades back again to the earlier level. Traders who previously bought the stock and sold it for a profit would likely buy it again at this level. Those who previously sold the stock at this level and missed the recent run-up would have a chance to buy it back. Such buying activities usually slow down the drop and may reverse the momentum. We can then say that the stock price has hit some "support level," by which we suppose that it most likely will not quickly drop through it.

The Least Squares Linear Trend Model Year Coded X Sales (Y)

The Least Squares Linear Trend Model (continued) Excel Output Projected to year 2001

The Quadratic Trend Model Year Coded X Sales (Y)

The Quadratic Trend Model (continued) Excel Output Projected to year 2001

The Exponential Trend Model or Excel Output of Values in logs Year Coded X Sales (Y)

Model Selection Using Differences Use a linear trend model if the first differences are more or less constant Use a quadratic trend model if the second differences are more or less constant

Model Selection Using Differences Use an exponential trend model if the percentage differences are more or less constant (continued)

Selecting A Forecasting Model Perform a residual analysis –Look for pattern or direction Measure sum of square error - SSE (residual errors) Use simplest model

Residual Analysis Random errors Trend not accounted for Cyclical effects not accounted for Seasonal effects not accounted for T T T T ee e e

Measuring Errors Choose a model that gives the smallest measuring errors Sum square error (SSE) – –Sensitive to outliers