# Leverage constraints

I am trying to complete my project on Mean-Variance Leverage Optimization, and I have found lots of helpful advice on this forum. I wanted to ask you if you have some idea on how to implement a leverage constraint, I will try and explain myself in more detail.

My starting point: I have a starting set of constraints for the Optimization is to build an EAE portfolio like the one proposed by Jacob and Levy here Traditional Optimization is not optimal for Lvg Averse investor. So I did try to implement this using a QP optimization in Matlab and my code so far it seems working...

However when I perform my quadratic optimization I don't use any constraints on the leverage term, thus I get a set of active weights constrained by dollar neutrality and market neutrality plus some lower bound and upper bound that is +- 0.1 of the benchmark weight. -this gives different level of leverage associated with different expected active return-. Now my question is ...how do I impose constraints on the level of leverage maintaining the constraints imposed by the EAE portfolio construction? i.e I want to find different efficient frontier for different level of lvg for example setting lvg = 0.10-0.20-0.30 ecc

$$\sum_{i=1}^N x_i = 0$$

$$\sum_{i=1}^N x_i \beta_i= 0$$

$$b_i-0.10 \le x_i \le b_i+0.10$$

$$\sum_{i=1}^N |h_i| -1 =\Lambda$$

Edit: I uploaded a picture to make it clearer..hope it works..So in the first 3 lines there are my constraints.. where x stands for the active weight and b for the benchmark weight. I forgot to mention that h = x + b; So what i would like to achieve is to impose different level of leverage..leverage is the last equation with the h in absolute value.

• is it possible to formulate your objective function and constraints mathematically, rather than ask the reader to follow and read an entire paper? I would like to offer to an opinion on this but frankly without more guidance I don't have the time to fully research what you are asking. Also what is you definition of 'leverage'? – Attack68 May 19 at 12:33
• yes, I will try and edit the question...I'm new on this forum so I have to check how to write mathematically... – renato May 19 at 12:43
• i edited my question...leverage is specified as the sum of the holding weights in absolute value - 1 – renato May 19 at 12:52

Since you are running a QuadraticProgram (QP) I'll assume your objective function is of the form:

$$\min_x \quad f(x) = (b+x)^T Q (b+x) + P (b+x) \;,$$

where $$b$$ are the known market weights and thus $$\delta^T b = 1$$. $$x$$ is interpreted as a deviation in asset holding from the given market portfolio.

You have specified the constraints as:

• 1) $$\delta^T x = 0$$: the sum of $$x_i$$ is zero.

• 2) $$\beta^T x = 0$$: unknown, no definition of $$\beta$$ given.

• 3) $$b - 0.1 \leq x \leq b + 0.1$$: I think this should be: $$-0.1 \leq x \leq 0.1$$

Now you want to have some control over your leverage which you define as:

$$\Lambda = \delta^T|b-x| - 1 \;.$$

Personally, I would re-express this solving for $$y=b+x$$:

$$\min_y \quad f(y) = y^TQy + Py + \gamma |y|$$ subject to: $$\delta^T y = 1$$ $$\beta^T y = \beta^T b$$ $$b-0.1 \leq y \leq b + 0.1$$

Notice the inclusion of the term $$\gamma |y|$$. In common optimization terminology this is known as a lasso term. It is a form of regularisation and its strength can be controlled by the hyper-parameter $$\gamma$$.

The lowest this term will ever be is $$\gamma$$ when all elements of $$y$$ are positive. However, when an asset is short sold, permitting an increase in holding of another asset then this value will increase (and is thus factored into the minimisation). Note that I assume for $$b$$ no asset is short sold. Practically this might also make your third constraint moot, since it seems to me that is a manual attempt at regularisation to ensure you don't get much leverage, but you can achieve the same result by using only the lasso term.

### edited for comment:

you are concerned about total variance or active variance. However, consider the problem of active variance (which is only a slight variant of the above and I assume is related to the following form):

$$\min_x \quad f(x) = x^TQx + Px + \gamma |b + x|$$

subject to: $$g_i(x) = 0$$, $$h_i(x) \leq 0$$.

Again you can quickly and easily reconfigure this to:

$$\min_y \quad f(y) = (y-b)^TQ(y-b) + P(y-b) + \gamma |y|$$ $$\quad \implies f(y) = y^TQy + (P -2b^TQ)y + \gamma |y| \quad [+ const.]$$ subject to: $$g_i(y-b) = 0$$, $$h_i(y-b)=0$$,

and again you have the traditional lasso format, which I only mention since some optimizers are specifically build to handle this kind of problem optimally, (although for a small scale problem it won't matter)

• Thanks for your clear explanation. I understand the way we can reformulate the problem solving for y..I honestly have never heard about the lasso term before. the problem now is that my objective function is not the Total variance but only the variance of active return..and yes you have got the point I am trying a manual attempt to constrain my level of leverage. I need to optimize the active variance to plug it in my utility function. I am sorry for my English and for my confusing question – renato May 19 at 17:35
• See my edit.. I suspect its no problem a little mathematical manipulation cannot fix. – Attack68 May 19 at 19:07
• Yes..thank you for your explanation. I think that I have got the point...the main thing is to treat x = y - b..with this transformation in mind, I think I could put a constraint on the leverage level I want.. – renato May 19 at 20:02