Predictive Analytics
Semester 2, 2019
Homework (15%)
1 Rationale
This assignment is designed to help students to develop basic predictive analytics skills on synthetic and possible real applied problems. The skills include data visualization, model building
and analysis in terms of understanding the theory, practicing with raw data and programming in
Python.
If you spot any typos or mistakes in this assignment, please report immediately to the coordinator minh-ngoc.tran@sydney.edu.au
2 Questions
The data set SP500 weekly Jan1988 Nov2018.csv (downloaded from https://au.finance.yahoo.com),
available on Canvas, contains the Standard & Poor weekly adjusted closing stock indexes from
January 1988 to November 2018. Denote this time series as {yt
, t = 1, ..., T = 1613}.
(a) Write Python script to load the data and produce their time series plot. Include the plot
and your comments (if any) together with the Python script in your submission.
(b) Write Python script to produce one-step-ahead forecasts for the last 100 observations using
the naive forecasting method with drift, i.e. compute
ybt|tt1, t = 1514, ...1613.
• Plot these forecasts together with the actual values. Include the plot and the Python
script in your submission.
• Report the scale-dependent measure Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and scaleindependent measure Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) (the errors between
forecasts and the ground true indexes].
(c) Smooth the time series using centered MA-4. Plot the smoothed time series together with
the original time series. Include the plot and the Python script in your submission.
(d) Given the stock indexes {yt
, t = 1, ...T}, the stock returns are defined as
rt = log yt+1
yt
, t = 1, ...T T 1.
Write Python script to compute the stock returns and produce their time series plot. Comment on this plot in conjunction with the plot of the indexes {yt
, t = 1, ..., T}. Which dataset
do you think is more predictable, and why? Include the plot and the Python script in your
submission.
(e) For the index dataset {yt
, t = 1, ...T}
• Use the last 100 observations as testing data, and the previous observations for the
training data. Use the training dataset to estimate the parameters (weight α and initial
level l0. You may set l0 = y1 or l0 be the average of a few first observations) of the
Simple Exponential Smoothing (SES) method.
• Based on these estimates of α and l0, compute one-ahead-forecasts on the test data, i.e.,
ybt|tt1, t = 1514, ...1613.
Compute the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and plot the forecasts. Please
also include your Python code in submission.
(f) For the squared returns dataset {xt = r
2
t
, t = 1, ...T T 1}
• Use the last 100 observations as testing data, and the previous observations for the
training data. Use the training dataset to estimate the parameters (weight α and initial
level l0. You may set l0 = x1 or the average of a few first observations) of the SES
method.
• Based on these estimates of α and l0, compute one-ahead-forecasts on the test data, i.e.,
xbt|tt1, t = 1513, ...1612.
Compute the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and plot the forecasts. Please
also include your Python code in submission.
(g) Compare the MAPE obtained for the index dataset {yt
, t = 1, ...} and the MAPE for the
squared returns dataset {xt = r
2
t
, t = 1, ...}. Give your comments
(h) (Optional) Repeat parts (e) and (f) with the Trend Corrected Exponential Smoothing (TCES)
method. Do you obtain better forecasts (compared to the SES method)?
Page 2
3 Instructions and Marking criteria
For parts (e) and (f), the more accurate forecasts (i.e., smaller MAPE) you have, the more marks
you’re given. Part (h) is optional, bonus marks might be awarded if you attempt this part.
Assignment Report: The assignment report should be presented as a technical report that:
• details ALL required steps.
• provides sufficient explanation and interpretation of any results you obtain. Output without
reasonable justifications will not receive full marks.
• Clearly and appropriately presents any relevant tables, graphs and screen dumps from programs if any. You may insert small sections of your code into the report for better interpretation when necessary. Find the best and most structured way to present your work,
summarise the implementation procedures, support your results/findings and prove the originality of your work.
• reports numbers with decimals to the three-decimal point.
• properly cites all the references if any.
Assessment of your written presentation skill is part of this assignment. Markers will allocate up
to 10% of the mark for presentation.
Important notes:
• Required submissions: ONE written report (MS word or pdf format) and ONE Python
source code file (Jupyter Notebook .ipynb or .py). Please follow instructions for submissions
announced on Canvas.
• The late penalty for the assignment is 5% of the assigned mark per day, starting after 4:00pm
on the due date. The closing date is the last date on which an assessment will be accepted
for marking. See Canvas for the due date and closing date of this assignment.
• As anonymous marking policy, only include your Students ID in the report and do NOT
include your name.
• The name of the report and code file must follow the format
QBUS6840 Assignment1 2019S2.
• The report should be NOT more than 15 pages including everything like text, figure,
tables and small sections of inserted codes, etc, but excluding the appendix.
Page 3
• The University of Sydney takes plagiarism very seriously. Please be warned that plagiarism
between individuals is always obvious to the markers and can be easily detected by Turnitin.
Key rules:
• Carefully read the requirements for each part of the assignment.
• Please follow any further instructions announced on Canvas, particularly for submissions.
• You must use Python for the assignment. To avoid any potential issues with your codes,
please use the latest Anaconda version for your Python programs.
• Reproducibility is fundamental in data analysis, so that you are required to submit a code
file that generates your results. Not submitting your code or submitting code that are not
runnable will lead to a loss of 50% of the assignment marks.
• Referencing: Harvard Referencing System.
(Please find the details at: http://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508212&p=3476130)