An algorithmic approach to portfolio construction: A Turkish stock market case

Abstract

The goal of building a diversified portfolio is to mitigate risks and manage risk-reward tradeoffs. Diversification is also crucial for ensuring the long-term success of a portfolio. Although passive investment has been on the rise in most developed markets, it has not gained wider acceptance in some emerging markets, such as Türkiye. This study proposes an approach to construct a diversified portfolio that serves as a passive investment tool in the context of the Turkish stock market. Despite the long history of equity markets in Türkiye, almost all available passive investment alternatives are prohibitively expensive, unlike those in developed markets. We design a simple methodology that addresses the essential components of building a successful portfolio while avoiding excessive fees. Additionally, we propose a dynamic balancing strategy that algorithmically adjusts the weight of each stock in the portfolio. We test this approach with historical data, demonstrating that it can achieve reasonable returns with minimal effort. Even when its performance does not beat the benchmark, the percentage deviation is still below the management fees charged for alternative investments.