Forecasting stock index returns using ARIMA-SVM, ARIMA-ANN, and ARIMA-random forest hybrid models

The purpose of this paper is to develop and identify the best hybrid model to predict stock index returns. We develop three different hybrid models combining linear ARIMA and non-linear models such as support vector machines (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN) and random forest (RF) models to predict the stock index returns. The performance of ARIMA-SVM, ARIMA-ANN and ARIMA-RF are compared with performance of ARIMA, SVM, ANN and RF models. The various competing models are evaluated in terms of statistical metrics and trading performance criteria via a trading strategy. The analysis shows that the hybrid ARIMA-SVM model is the best forecasting model to achieve high forecast accuracy and better returns.