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Optimal currency carry trade strategies

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  • Laborda, Juan
  • Laborda, Ricardo
  • Olmo, Jose

Abstract

This paper studies the optimal asset allocation problem of an investor with a portfolio given by the U.S. risk-free asset and a carry trade benchmark comprising the currencies of the G10 countries. Our optimal strategy is able to adapt to macroeconomic conditions and avoid the so-called crash risk inherent in standard carry trade strategies by constructing a vector of dynamic weights that depends on a set of state variables. We find that the U.S. Ted spread, the U.S. average forward discount, the CRB Industrial return, and a global monetary policy indicator are the key drivers of optimal currency carry trade strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Laborda, Juan & Laborda, Ricardo & Olmo, Jose, 2014. "Optimal currency carry trade strategies," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 52-66.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:33:y:2014:i:c:p:52-66
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2014.03.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Yamani, Ehab, 2019. "Diversification role of currency momentum for carry trade: Evidence from financial crises," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1-19.
    2. Lei Pan & Svetlana Maslyuk-Escobedo & Vinod Mishra, 2019. "Carry Trade Returns and Commodity Prices under Capital and Interest Rate Controls: Empirical Evidence from China," Monash Economics Working Papers 16-18, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    3. Chang‐Che Wu & MeiChi Huang & Chih‐Chiang Wu, 2021. "The role of asymmetry and dynamics in carry trade and general financial markets," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 56(2), pages 331-353, May.
    4. Lumengo Bonga-Bonga & Tebogo Maake, 2021. "The Relationship between Carry Trade and Asset Markets in South Africa," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-13, July.
    5. Laborda, Ricardo, 2018. "Optimal combination of currency strategies," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 129-140.
    6. Dupuy, Philippe, 2021. "Risk-adjusted return managed carry trade," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Currency carry trade; Uncovered interest parity; CRB industrial return; Monetary policy; Optimal parametric portfolio;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange

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