Dynamic Relationship between Volatility Risk Premia of Stock and Oil Returns

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between the volatility risk premia (VRP) of stock and oil returns. Using daily data on VRP from 10 May 2007 to 16 May 2017, VAR analyses on the stock and oil VRP are conducted, and it is found that the effects of the stock VRP on the oil VRP are limited and, if any, short-lived. In contrast, the VRP of oil has significantly positive and long-lasting effects on the stock VRP after the financial crisis. These results suggest that investors’ sentiments (measured by VRP) are transmitted from the oil to the stock market over time, but not vice versa. This is unexpected because the financialization of commodities means a massive increase in investment in commodities by investors in the traditional stock and bond markets; hence, the direction of effects is thought to be from the stock to the commodity market.