Spot Returns Research Articles

Sovereign momentum currency returns

We study the relationship between cross-sectional sovereign credit risk and currency spot prices. We find that past (up to 12-month average) sovereign credit risk, measured by sovereign credit default swap (CDS) spreads, predict future currency spot returns. In particular, we document a significant cross-sectional currency portfolio spread in excess of the risk-free rate of return (up to 9.6% p.a.) between the highest and the lowest quintile sovereign CDS spreads. Overall, our results indicate that sovereign credit risk is systematically important for currency returns. Moreover, the level of sovereign credit risk has a persistent effect on currency returns which is consistent with a sovereign momentum effect.

Tail risk aversion and backwardation of index futures

We show that tail risk aversion, proxied by the skewness risk premium implied from the SSE 50 ETF options market, explains a significant proportion of the unusually deep backwardation of index futures during the 2015 Chinese stock market crash, while traditional factors such as non-synchronous trading, spot return, volatility and liquidity, all fail to explain the backwardation. These empirical results imply that investors' concern over the crash risk causes speculators to charge a high ‘insurance premium’ on hedgers. On the other hand, short-sale constraints, namely high security borrowing costs and other barriers, prevent reverse arbitrage such that the deep backwardation of index futures persists.

Structural Dynamics of Indian Commodity Derivatives Market

"The inter temporal dimensions of an asset are examined through the price discovery function analysis of futures and spot price dynamics. The present study used Granger causality test and Chow test to analyze the price discovery function and the structural break of the agriculture, base metals, bullion, and energy commodities futures and spot prices during 2016-2022. The findings revealed the bidirectional causality between both the spot and future markets except gold exhibited unidirectional causality where the future market lead on the spot return is greater than contrary. Since the selected time period captures the crisis period, understanding the dynamic patterns is important for derivative valuation, hedging and asset allocation. The result of structural break revealed that among the selected commodities, only few commodities does not exhibit the structural break during the crisis period. This infer that the demand and supply for those commodities would exist in equilibrium condition and the shocks would not be transmitted to the price of commodities. The study makes recommendations for market participants to use arbitrage and hedging tactics. Additionally, it assists the regulators in assessing the steadiness of expanding commodity futures markets in India."

Forecasting Taiwan stock returns via crude oil and gold futures

This study aims to predict Taiwan stock returns through gold and crude oil futures prices using monthly data from TAIEX and 19 stock sector indexes from January 1996 to December 2020. By using a 60-month rolling window horizon, we compare the forecast performances of various regression models, where the forecast performances are measured by MAE (mean absolute error) and ROS2 (out-of-sample R-square). In addition to using spot returns and the first principal component of futures returns on gold and crude oil, five traditional financial variables (dividend to price ratio, earnings to price ratio, market price to book value ratio, long-term yield, and short-term yield) are added to the regression model to explain and predict stock returns. Given that the regression models have included these traditional financial variables, the empirical results reveal that adding gold or crude oil price information to the model substantially improves its explanatory ability. Additionally, except during periods of high stock returns, the forecast ability of crude oil price information on stock returns is significantly better than traditional forecast variables. Furthermore, although gold prices are not as accurate as crude oil prices in predicting stock returns, their predictive capabilities are often better than the traditional financial variables.

How does economic policy uncertainty (EPU) impact copper-firms stock returns? International evidence

Using monthly data, we study 43 copper firms between January 2011 and March 2022. We analyze how copper-firms stock returns depend on copper-spot prices returns. Nevertheless, the main contribution of this article is to study how changes in Global EPU (GEPU) and Local EPU may impact on copper-firms stock returns and how both of them may influence the sensitivity of stock returns to copper prices returns. We find that both GEPU and Local EPU have a statistically significant and negative impact on stock returns. We also study regimes of high and low levels of EPU (Global and Local). For high levels of GEPU we find a negative relationship between stock returns and GEPU and for low levels of GEPU we detect a positive relationship. We also consider how high levels and low levels of Local EPU impact the relationship between copper spot returns and stock returns. When there are high levels of GEPU the sensitivity of stock returns to copper spot returns increases and the opposite is verified when there are low levels of GEPU. Using Local EPU we do not find significant changes in the sensitivity of stock returns to copper spot returns. As robustness test, we consider firms from other four industries (Gold, Oil, Electric Distribution and Gas Distribution). Most of the results show different behavior in each industry regarding the association between EPU and stock returns. We also run the main equations considering a six-factor model for returns (five factors from Fama and French) and the momentum factor. Finally, we do the analysis for copper future returns (90 days and 15 months), reporting similar results. We do not find significant changes in the results after doing all the robustness checking.

The impacts of futures trading on volatility and volatility asymmetry of Bitcoin returns

The impact of Bitcoin futures introduction on the underlying Bitcoin volatility has been a controversial topic. Conflicting results had been obtained from different sample periods and methodologies. To address this debate, this study examines the impact of futures trading on volatility and volatility asymmetry of Bitcoin returns in the short and long run. Using exponential GARCH models, we introduce a dummy in the variance equation to capture the changes in the volatility after the introduction of Bitcoin futures. We find that after the introduction, spot return volatility decreases in the short run, but increases in the long run. Besides, in the short run, there exists an inverse leverage effect before and after the introduction; in the long run, the inverse leverage effect before the introduction changes to a usual level effect after the introduction. Finally, we examine whether greater futures trading activity, proxied by trading volume and open interest, is associated with greater Bitcoin volatility. To do so, we decompose each proxy into expected and unexpected components and document that, in the long run, Bitcoin volatility covaries positively with unexpected futures trading volume, but negatively with unexpected futures open interest.

Effect of Futures Trading Restrictions on Market Efficiency: A Multifractal Analysis

Based on the China Securities Index 300 (CSI 300 index) futures trading restrictions in 2015, this paper uses the multifractal detrending moving-average cross-correlation analysis method (MF-X-DMA) to investigate the effect of introducing futures trading restrictions on the market efficiency of CSI 300 index spot and futures markets. We begin by using multifractal detrending moving-average analysis (MF-DMA) and find that the futures trading restrictions improve spot market efficiency but decrease futures market efficiency. Moreover, we examine the cross-correlation between spot and futures markets and the information transmission process. MF-X-DMA analysis shows an increase in the level of persistent cross-correlation between spot and futures markets, and a decrease in the multifractality degree of cross-correlation, suggesting that the relationship between spot and futures markets becomes stronger and less complicated after the futures trading restrictions. Moreover, the nonlinear Granger causality test shows that futures returns do not Granger cause spot returns after the restrictions. Therefore, the futures trading restrictions may mitigate the harmful effect of speculative trading in the futures market and thus improve spot market efficiency.

Beyond Basis Basics: Liquidity Demand and Deviations from the Law of One Price

ABSTRACTDeviations from the law of one price between futures and spot prices—the futures‐cash basis—capture information about liquidity demand for equity market exposure in global markets. We show that the basis comoves with dealer and investor futures positions, is contemporaneously positively correlated with futures and spot market returns, and negatively predicts futures and spot returns. These findings are consistent with the futures‐cash basis reflecting liquidity demand that is common to futures and cash equity markets. We find persistent supply‐demand imbalances for equity index exposure reflected in the basis, giving rise to an annual premium of 5% to 6%.

A new test for market efficiency and uncovered interest parity

We suggest a new single-equation test for Uncovered Interest Parity () based on a dynamic regression approach. The method provides consistent and asymptotically efficient parameter estimates, and is not dependent on assumptions of strict exogeneity. This new approach is asymptotically more efficient than the common approach of using OLS with HAC robust standard errors in the static forward premium regression. The coefficient estimates when spot return changes are regressed on the forward premium are all positive and remarkably stable across currencies. These estimates are considerably larger than those of previous studies, which frequently find negative coefficients. The method also has the advantage of showing dynamic effects of risk premia, or other events that may lead to rejection of UIP or the efficient markets hypothesis.

An empirical study on the relationship between canola oil futures and spot yields in China

This paper selects canola oil futures log returns and spot log returns from 2016 to March 2022 in China, and empirically analyzes the relationship between the two based on VAR model, Grand causality test, impulse response, and variance decomposition. The results show that: there is a regression relationship between Chinese rapeseed oil futures returns and spot returns, and they influence each other; the impact of rapeseed oil spot returns on futures returns is weak, and rapeseed oil futures returns have a stronger leading effect on spot returns; the impact between both rapeseed oil futures returns and spot returns is short-term, and the duration is not too long.

Price Discovery and Volatility Spillover in Commodity Futures and Spot Market in India: An Empirical Analysis

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the price discovery process, persistence of volatility and spillover of volatility in commodity futures and spot market in India. Methodology: In this paper, commodities namely, mentha oil, cotton, gold and aluminium have been selected to explore the process of price discovery, volatility persistence and spillover of volatility using cointegration test, vector error correction (VECM), granger causality and GARCH model. Findings: The results of VECM suggest that price discovery takes place in futures market in case of all commodities except for mentha oil where price discovery occurs in spot market. The Block Exogeneity Wald test (granger causality) results also show that futures market has stronger ability to predict the spot prices. The results of GARCH model indicate that volatility is persistent for all commodities except mentha oil futures return. In the support of VECM and granger causality test results, GARCH model results also indicate that volatility spillovers from futures return to spot return for all selected commodities except cotton where volatility spillovers from spot return to futures return. Practical Implications: The findings of this study significantly contribute to the Indian commodity derivatives market literature and useful for future researchers, investors, hedgers, economists and policy makers. Originality: There are very few studies that have examined the price discovery process and spillover of volatility using combination of both agricultural and nonagricultural commodities in India.

A Minimum Variance Hedging Ratio Model Based on Nonlinear Grey Classification Model

The risk transfer function of futures market is mainly realized by hedging strategy. Futures price yield and spot price yield tend to show different fluctuations before and during hedging, which leads to the distortion of hedging ratio, that is, the calculated hedging effect is weaker than the traditional hedging effect. On the basis of MV (minimum variance) hedging model, this paper introduces NGCM (nonlinear grey classification model) to solve the nonlinear correlation between futures and spot returns, which can improve the hedging effect. The results show that, due to the existence of basis, the price change model violates the linear assumption of OLS (ordinary least squares) parameters, and there is a problem of model missetting. It is estimated that HR (hedging ratio) should choose the price model, which can better depict the linkage between futures price and spot price. The effectiveness of HR in this study is higher than that of existing models. Applying this model to hedge can effectively avoid the spot price risk. Investors can reasonably choose the hedging model according to their own needs.

Home Bias of Korean Resident Bond Investors: The Role of FX Hedging

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the home bias of Korean resident bond investors, as their overseas bond investments have rapidly increased after 2000. For this purpose, we introduce the Won/invested currency swap basis (interest rate differential adjusted FX swap return) and the Won/invested currency uncovered basis (interest rate differential adjusted expected FX spot return) along with the interest rate gap based on CIP and UCIP respectively in order to address the return factors in detail. The model coefficients are estimated by the static pooled OLS and the dynamic system GMM over the period of 2002–2018 and 2009–2018 respectively. With these estimation results, we have obtained the following implications. First, it is expected that the level of home bias will decline as Korean resident overseas bond investments increase, as the factors that have traditionally caused home bias continue to mitigate. Second, when Korean residents invest in overseas bond markets, the FX risk has partially hedged at the country level. This suggests that the rapid in/out flows for overseas bond transactions make a significant impact on the FX swap rates as well as spot rates. Third, both groups of investors have taken into heavy consideration both the FX swap basis (or the FX uncovered basis) related to the invested currency/USD as well as to Won/USD. Our findings suggest that the policy makers need to reconsider their conventional monitoring methods which are focused on the Won/USD transactions.

Market efficiency and price risk management of agricultural commodity prices in India

PurposeMarket efficiency leads to transparent and fair price discovery of commodity markets, thus enhancing the value chain for competitive benefit. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the market efficiency of Indian agricultural commodities at spot, futures and mandi markets apart from exploring price risk management in these markets.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses Johansen co-integration, vector error correction model and granger causality for analyzing market efficiency of the nine most liquid agricultural commodities across three markets, namely, spot, futures and mandi. All these nine commodities are traded on National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange.FindingsThe statistical results indicate price discovery exists in the mandi market and spot market leading to futures prices. Mandi price returns are seen to negatively influence futures returns in the case of cotton seed, guar seed and spot returns in the case of jeera, coriander and chana. For castor seed, the three markets are seen to have no long run relationship. The results of Granger causality reveal short run relationship between all the three markets in the case of soybean seed and coriander. In these commodities, prices in all three markets are capable of predicting the prices in the other markets. For the case of cottonseed, Rape Mustard seed, jeera, guar seed, the results indicate unidirectional causality between the mandi markets and the other two markets.Research limitations/implicationsThese results shall facilitate policymakers to explore intervention through integrated agri-platform (IAP) in price discovery and market efficiency.Practical implicationsThe results of this study are useful in understanding the price discovery of mandi markets and its role in the spot and futures market. Agricultural commodities price discovery depends upon the integration of all these three markets. Introduction of IAP as described in the paper shall facilitate price risk management apart from improving the efficiency of price discovery.Originality/valueTo the best of the knowledge, this is the first study considering mandi, spot and futures prices in the price discovery process in India. In addition, this study found the role of mandi markets in serving the economic function of price discovery and price risk management. Hence, suggests for policy intervention for Indian agricultural commodities to manage price risk.

Determinants of Put-Call Disparity: Kospi 200 Index Options

Many studies find that traditional option pricing models fail to work in practice. The implied volatility smile is one example. In this study, we examine deviations of spot prices from prices implied by put-call parity for Korean KOSPI 200 index options, one of the most actively traded derivative products in the world. Deviations are significant and economically meaningful across different moneyness categories spanning deep-in-the-money to deep-out-of-the-money options. Determinants of put-call disparities for the KOSPI 200 index options include past spot return moments, cognitive biases, and prior option trading volume relative to spot trading volume. We show mispricing is more likely to occur after periods of extreme downturns in the stock market, implying demand for put options increases relative to call options when investors become more likely to insure against extreme loss. We also show that put-call disparity rates have predictive power for future spot returns due to overreaction of KOSPI 200 index option traders, rather than to information contained in option prices.

The impact of economic policy uncertainties on the volatility of European carbon market

The European Union Emission Trading Scheme is a carbon emission allowance trading system designed by Europe to achieve emission reduction target. The amount of carbon emission caused by production activities is closely related to the socio-economic environment. Therefore, from the perspective of economic policy uncertainty, this article constructs the GARCH-MIDAS-EUEPU and GARCH-MIDAS-GEPU models for investigating the impact of European and global economic policy uncertainty on the volatility of the European carbon market. The results show that both European and global economic policy uncertainty will exacerbate the long-term volatility of European carbon spot return, with the latter having a stronger impact when the change is the same. Moreover, the volatility of the European carbon spot return can be forecasted better by the predictor, global economic policy uncertainty. This research can provide some implications for market managers in grasping carbon market trends and helping participants control the risk of fluctuations in carbon allowances.

Extreme risk spillovers between crude palm oil prices and exchange rates

This study is the first attempt to examine the extreme risk spillovers between Malaysian crude palm oil (CPO) and foreign exchange currencies of the three largest CPO importers: India, the European Union and China throughout the global financial crisis. Using daily data of three currencies, CPO spot and futures from 2000 to 2018, our results show: First, before the crisis, the unexpected change in foreign exchange rates is the primary driver of risk spillover to the CPO market. Second, during the crisis, the extreme movement of CPO spot returns is dominant in the Malaysian exchange rates relative to the euro. Third, after the crisis, the spillover flows from the CPO market to the foreign exchange market. Overall, our findings show the importance of CPO pricing dynamics in mitigating foreign exchange risk over the crisis period. This paper contributes to the extant literature by recognizing the effect of risk spillover on the targeted foreign exchange rate for portfolio allocation.

The challenges of oil investing: Contango and the financialization of commodities

The ability of oil investment vehicles to perfectly track spot oil has always been challenging; however, recently many vehicles have underperformed spot oil. We study the behavior of oil futures and exchange-traded products that invest in oil futures to document and understand the source of this tracking error. The primary reason why oil investment vehicles have underperformed spot oil is an increase in contango in oil futures markets that we find might be related to investment crowding and the financialization of commodity markets. We show that from 2006 to 2017, oil futures investing underperformed spot oil and the market was in contango most of the time. Proxies for crowding, such as the concentration of major oil investors and changes in assets under management and fund flows of major oil exchange-traded products, are associated with contango in the futures markets and the divergence between futures and spot returns. We also provide evidence of an impact of the financialization on oil futures prices.

When Pep comes calling, the oil market answers: The effect of football player transfer movements on abnormal fluctuations in oil price futures

We examine the effect of player-transfers entered into by football clubs owned, or financed, by individuals who are key players in the oil market on abnormal returns in oil futures. In oil-financed football clubs, the sums expended buying players frequently far exceeds the amount received from selling players in the player-transfer market. We find that in order to finance these deficits in the player-transfer market, the owners act opportunistically by withholding the oil supply, resulting in higher abnormal oil spot returns. We also find that these spot price adjustments are reflected in abnormal returns in the futures market. The exception is when the deficit in the player-transfer market is above a very high threshold, which is typically only the case when the highest profile players in football are transferred. The high-profile transfers attract widespread media attention, making oil futures investors aware of the potential transmission from the player-transfer market to the oil market on a wide-scale, which dissipates the effect of a deficit in the player transfer market on abnormal returns in oil futures.

Do the basis and other predictors of futures return also predict spot return with the same signs and magnitudes? Evidence from the LME

The LME is a major international commodity exchange for industrial metals. Both futures contracts and spot metals are traded there, and the textbook principle of the futures-spot convergence precisely holds there. In this paper, we formulate two claims about spot and futures return prediction. First, the predictors of futures price return should also predict spot price return with the same signs and magnitudes under certain conditions. Second, the futures-spot basis is an exception. These claims lead to testable hypotheses, and provide theory-based restrictions for the coefficients of spot and futures return regressions. We investigate six industrial metals and find empirical support for our hypotheses. The in-sample and out-of-sample evidence shows that financial variables, proxies for global economic activities, and the basis predict futures and spot price returns consistently with our hypotheses. Furthermore, our out-of-sample trading exercises document economic significance of the restrictions.