  We are deriving optimal rank-based tests for the adequacy of a vector
autoregressive-moving average (VARMA) model with elliptically contoured
innovation density. These tests are based on the ranks of pseudo-Mahalanobis
distances and on normed residuals computed from Tyler's [Ann. Statist. 15
(1987) 234-251] scatter matrix; they generalize the univariate signed rank
procedures proposed by Hallin and Puri [J. Multivariate Anal. 39 (1991) 1-29].
Two types of optimality properties are considered, both in the local and
asymptotic sense, a la Le Cam: (a) (fixed-score procedures) local asymptotic
minimaxity at selected radial densities, and (b) (estimated-score procedures)
local asymptotic minimaxity uniform over a class F of radial densities.
Contrary to their classical counterparts, based on cross-covariance matrices,
these tests remain valid under arbitrary elliptically symmetric innovation
densities, including those with infinite variance and heavy-tails. We show that
the AREs of our fixed-score procedures, with respect to traditional (Gaussian)
methods, are the same as for the tests of randomness proposed in Hallin and
Paindaveine [Bernoulli 8 (2002b) 787-815]. The multivariate serial extensions
of the classical Chernoff-Savage and Hodges-Lehmann results obtained there thus
also hold here; in particular, the van der Waerden versions of our tests are
uniformly more powerful than those based on cross-covariances. As for our
estimated-score procedures, they are fully adaptive, hence, uniformly optimal
over the class of innovation densities satisfying the required technical
assumptions.
