To perform the import process of a custom capital market simulation, click the Import button of the Asset Classes dialog box, select and open the import file and complete the parameters of the next dialog box accessed, the Import Capital Market Simulation dialog box. The layout for the imported file matches the layout generated by the Output | Capital Market Simulation | Trial Detail command:

Inflation
Year1 Year2 …
Trial1
Trial2
…
30 Yr Benchmark Government Yield (if used)
Year1 Year2 …
Trial1
Trial2
…
Corporate Bond Benchmark Yield (if used)
Year1 Year2 …
Trial1
Trial2
…
AssetClass1
Year1 Year2 …
Trial1
Trial2
…
AssetClass2
Year1 Year2 …
Trial1
Trial2
…
etc.

At the top of the Import Capital Market Simulation dialog box, the list of asset classes (visible when you click the arrow of the Asset class parameter) includes all previously defined classes, plus “<Inflation>”. If you have checked the Include 30-Year Government Benchmark Yield box in the Asset Classes dialog box, “<Government Yield>” is included as well. Similarly, if you have also checked the Include Corporate Bond Benchmark Yield box in the Asset Classes dialog box, “<Corporate Yield>” is included. Before execution of your stochastic forecast, information must be imported for all asset classes in the list.

If the first asset class (Asset class #1) in the import file is the simulation for an already defined asset class, click the name of the asset class from the list. ProVal has filled in the row and column parameters with its guess as to the location of the grid (highlighted in the spreadsheet) representing the simulation for the first asset class in the import file. You may specify a different location by editing the Start import at row and (Start import at) column parameters if you wish to omit some trials or years of your simulation (type in the row or column numbers, respectively). Click Next. ProVal identifies the asset class of this name as the one in your file starting at the indicated row and column and then advances both the asset class parameter and the row and column parameters, to Asset class #2 and to the location of the second asset class in your import file, respectively.

Alternatively, to import a new asset class, rather than replace or provide a simulation for an existing one, click New to enter the Asset Class dialog box, in which you supply information for this investment type. (See Asset Class Parameters for details.) Click OK to return to the Import Capital Market Simulation dialog box. ProVal has entered the name of the new asset class as Asset Class #1. Now click Next. ProVal identifies the new asset class as the one in your file starting at the row and column indicated on the screen and advances the asset class, row and column parameters.

You may import an unlimited number of asset classes. You may also choose not to import a particular asset class contained in the import file. If you leave Skip this asset class checked when the identification process reaches the location of the asset class to be excluded, clicking Next will cause ProVal to advance to the location of the next asset class in the import file, without identifying the skipped class as an asset class for import of returns for your simulation.

For Asset Class #1, ProVal has filled in the Number of years (columns) parameter with the number of columns the simulation occupies in the spreadsheet. This is presumed to represent the number of years in your capital market simulation, but you may specify a fewer number of years (for example, if you are forecasting for a fewer number of years than the number of years of data included in the import file). Before you click Next, you may enter a smaller number to import only the data you need (if you enter 5, for example, ProVal will import the first 5 columns and you will have enough simulation results to support, at most, a 5 year forecast). Once set for Asset Class #1, this value of Number of years will be used for all imported asset classes.

For Asset Class #1, ProVal has not yet filled in the Number of trials (rows) parameter with the number of rows the simulation occupies in the spreadsheet. If you leave the parameter blank, ProVal will fill it in when you click Next, with the number of rows occupied, presumed to represent the number of trials in your capital market simulation. Before you click Next, you may enter a smaller number (for example, if the import file contains data for more trials than you need for your forecast) to import only the data you need (if you enter 500, for example, ProVal will import the first 500 rows and you will have enough simulation results to support, at most, a 500 trial forecast). Once set for Asset Class #1, this value of Number of trials will be used for all imported asset classes.

To change parameter settings of an asset class before you import it, click Back until ProVal has returned to the desired preceding asset class. To exit from this dialog box without importing, click Cancel.

Repeat the identification process until you have associated all the asset classes that you wish to import with the simulated return rates of the corresponding asset classes in the import file. Click Finish to import the selected simulation results.