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Momentum trading in cryptocurrencies: Short-term returns and diversification benefits

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  • Tzouvanas, Panagiotis
  • Kizys, Renatas
  • Tsend-Ayush, Bayasgalan

Abstract

We test for the presence of momentum effects in cryptocurrency market and estimate dynamic conditional correlations (DCCs) of returns between momentum portfolios of cryptocurrencies and traditional assets. First, investment portfolios are constructed adherent to the classic J∕K momentum strategy, using daily data from twelve cryptocurrencies for over a period of three years. We identify the existence of momentum effect, which is highly significant for short-term portfolios but disappears over the longer term. Second, we show that cross correlations of weekly returns between momentum portfolio of cryptocurrencies and traditional assets are unlike correlations of returns between traditional assets. Third, we find that momentum portfolios of cryptocurrencies not only offer diversification benefits but also can be a hedge and safe haven for traditional assets.

Suggested Citation

  • Tzouvanas, Panagiotis & Kizys, Renatas & Tsend-Ayush, Bayasgalan, 2020. "Momentum trading in cryptocurrencies: Short-term returns and diversification benefits," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:191:y:2020:i:c:s0165176519303647
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2019.108728
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    Cited by:

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    3. Helder Miguel Correia Virtuoso Sebastião & Paulo José Osório Rupino Da Cunha & Pedro Manuel Cortesão Godinho, 2021. "Cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Overview and future perspectives," International Journal of Economics and Business Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 21(3), pages 305-342.
    4. Andreas Renard Widarto & Harjum Muharam & Sugeng Wahyudi & Irene Rini Demi Pangestuti, 2022. "ASEAN-5 and Crypto Hedge Fund: Dynamic Portfolio Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    5. Long, Huaigang & Demir, Ender & Będowska-Sójka, Barbara & Zaremba, Adam & Shahzad, Syed Jawad Hussain, 2022. "Is geopolitical risk priced in the cross-section of cryptocurrency returns?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    6. Kaya, Orçun & Mostowfi, Mehdi, 2022. "Low-volatility strategies for highly liquid cryptocurrencies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    7. Daniel Poh & Stephen Roberts & Stefan Zohren, 2022. "Transfer Ranking in Finance: Applications to Cross-Sectional Momentum with Data Scarcity," Papers 2208.09968, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2023.
    8. Thomas E. Koker & Dimitrios Koutmos, 2020. "Cryptocurrency Trading Using Machine Learning," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-7, August.
    9. Li, Yi & Urquhart, Andrew & Wang, Pengfei & Zhang, Wei, 2021. "MAX momentum in cryptocurrency markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    10. Colombo, Jefferson A. & Cruz, Fernando I. L. & Paese, Luis H. Z. & Cortes, Renan X., 2021. "The diversification benefits of cryptocurrencies in multi-asset portfolios: cross-country evidence," Textos para discussão 542, FGV EESP - Escola de Economia de São Paulo, Fundação Getulio Vargas (Brazil).
    11. Jaroslav Mazanec, 2021. "Portfolio Optimalization on Digital Currency Market," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
    12. Sadaqat, Mohsin & Butt, Hilal Anwar, 2023. "Stop-loss rules and momentum payoffs in cryptocurrencies," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    13. Borgards, Oliver, 2021. "Dynamic time series momentum of cryptocurrencies," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    14. Chang, Hsuan-Ling & Nie, Wei-Ying & Chang, Li-Han & Cheng, Hung-Wen & Yen, Kuang-Chieh, 2023. "Cryptocurrency Momentum and VIX premium," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
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    16. Zehra Eksi & Daniel Schreitl, 2022. "Closing a Bitcoin Trade Optimally under Partial Information: Performance Assessment of a Stochastic Disorder Model," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, January.

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