A hybrid econometrics and machine learning based modeling of realized volatility of natural gas

Abstract

Determining which variables affect price realized volatility has always been challenging. This paper proposes to explain how financial assets influence realized volatility by developing an optimal day-to-day forecast. The methodological proposal is based on using the best econometric and machine learning models to forecast realized volatility. In particular, the best forecasting from heterogeneous autoregressive and long short-term memory models are used to determine the influence of the Standard and Poor’s 500 index, euro–US dollar exchange rate, price of gold, and price of Brent crude oil on the realized volatility of natural gas. These financial assets influenced the realized volatility of natural gas in 87.4% of the days analyzed; the euro–US dollar exchange rate was the primary financial asset and explained 40.1% of the influence. The results of the proposed daily analysis differed from those of the methodology used to study the entire period. The traditional model, which studies the entire period, cannot determine temporal effects, whereas the proposed methodology can. The proposed methodology allows us to distinguish the effects for each day, week, or month rather than averages for entire periods, with the flexibility to analyze different frequencies and periods. This methodological capability is key to analyzing influences and making decisions about realized volatility.