An alternative model for multivariate stable distributions

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-55). ; As the title, "An Alternative Model for Multivariate Stable Distributions", depicts, this thesis draws from the methodology of [J36] and derives an alternative to the sub-Gaussian alpha-stable distribution as another model for multivariate stable data without using the spectral measure as a dependence structure. From our investigation, firstly, we echo that the assumption of "Gaussianity" must be rejected, as a model for, particularly, high frequency financial data based on evidence from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Secondly, the introduced technique adequately models bivariate return data far better than the Gaussian model. We argue that unlike the sub-Gaussian stable and the model involving a spectral measure this technique is not subject to estimation of a joint index of stability, as such it may remain a superior alternative in empirical stable distribution theory. Thirdly, we confirm that the Gaussian Value-at-Risk and Conditional Value-at-Risk measures are more optimistic and misleading while their stable counterparts are more informative and reasonable. Fourthly, our results confirm that stable distributions are more appropriate for portfolio optimization than the Gaussian framework.