# Prove norm $\frac{1}{p}\sum_{i=1}^n |w_i|^p$ of min-variance portfolio $\leq$ max-Sharpe portfolio

The minimum-variance portfolio weight vector is

$$\boldsymbol{w}_{MV} = \frac{\boldsymbol{\Sigma}^{-1} \boldsymbol{1} }{\boldsymbol{1}' \boldsymbol{\Sigma}^{-1} \boldsymbol{1}}$$

whereas the maximum Sharpe ratio portfolio's weights are

$$\boldsymbol{w}_{SR} = \frac{\boldsymbol{\Sigma}^{-1} \left(\boldsymbol\mu - r_f \cdot \boldsymbol{1} \right) }{\boldsymbol{1}^\top \boldsymbol{\Sigma}^{-1} \left(\boldsymbol\mu - r_f \cdot \boldsymbol{1} \right)}$$ where $$\boldsymbol\mu$$ and $$\boldsymbol{\Sigma}$$ are the asset means and covariance matrix.

How can it be shown that the $$p=1,2$$ norm $$\frac{1}{p}\sum_{i=1}^n |w_i|^p$$ of the first solution will always be smaller than or equal to the second?

• Both of the closed-form portfolio solutions are derived under the full investment constraint (weights have to sum to 1). So for $p=1$, the norm of the MVP and the max-Sharpe portfolio should be equal? Thus for $p=1,2$, sharp inequality ($<$) does not hold and maybe it should be changed to $\leq$?
– Pleb
Jan 5 at 11:13
• Your formula yields $L_1$ norm for $p=1$ but not $L_2$ norm for $p=2$. Jan 6 at 14:15