Realized volatility or price range: Evidence from a discrete simulation of the continuous time diffusion process

The study provides evidence in favor of the price range as a proxy estimator of volatility in financial time series, in the cases that either intra-day datasets are unavailable or they are available at a low sampling frequency.A stochastic differential equation with time varying volatility of the instantaneous log-returns process is simulated, in order to mimic the continuous time diffusion analogue of the discrete time volatility process. The simulations provide evidence that the price range measures are superior to the realized volatility constructed at low sampling frequency. The high-low price range volatility estimator is more accurate than the realized volatility estimator based on five, or less, equidistance points in time. The open-high-low-close price range is more accurate than the realized volatility estimator based on eight, or less, intra-period log-returns.

► Price range measures are superior to realized volatility at low sampling frequency ► High-low range is preferable to realized volatility based on 5 intra-day log-returns ► 4-points range is preferable to realized volatility based on 8 intra-day log-returns ► A stochastic differential equation mimics the diffusion analogue of volatility process ► If intra-day data are unavailable then price range is a preferable volatility proxy.