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Is gold a hedge against inflation? A wavelet time-scale perspective

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Listed:
  • Thomas Conlon

    () (University College Dublin)

  • Brian M. Lucey

    () (Trinity College)

  • Gazi Salah Uddin

    () (Linköping University)

Abstract

Among the many presumed characteristics of gold, the ability to act as an enduring store of value is frequently noted. In this paper, the ability of gold to dynamically hedge against inflation is examined for various holding periods using the continuous wavelet transformation. Gold is first established as both a short- and long-term hedge against realized inflation for a number of developed economies. Dynamic analysis demonstrates that these hedging properties are not limited to a single historical cohort. Next, gold is shown to comove with unexpected inflation across all countries examined, albeit with some variation in the direction of the relationship. Finally, the capacity of both gold futures and gold stocks to act as a hedge against inflation is demonstrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Conlon & Brian M. Lucey & Gazi Salah Uddin, 2018. "Is gold a hedge against inflation? A wavelet time-scale perspective," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 317-345, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:rqfnac:v:51:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11156-017-0672-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11156-017-0672-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Corbet, Shaen & Dowling, Michael & Gao, Xiangyun & Huang, Shupei & Lucey, Brian & Vigne, Samuel A., 2019. "An analysis of the intellectual structure of research on the financial economics of precious metals," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Zaremba, Adam & Umar, Zaghum & Mikutowski, Mateusz, 2019. "Inflation hedging with commodities: A wavelet analysis of seven centuries worth of data," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 90-94.
    3. Dimitriou, Dimitrios & Kenourgios, Dimitris & Simos, Theodore, 2020. "Are there any other safe haven assets? Evidence for “exotic” and alternative assets," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 614-628.
    4. Qin, Meng & Su, Chi-Wei & Tao, Ran & Umar, Muhammad, 2020. "Is factionalism a push for gold price?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    5. Firouzi, Shahrokh & Wang, Xiangning, 2019. "A comparative study of exchange rates and order flow based on wavelet transform coherence and cross wavelet transform," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 42-56.
    6. Conlon, Thomas & McGee, Richard, 2020. "Safe haven or risky hazard? Bitcoin during the Covid-19 bear market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gold; Inflation; Hedge; Horizon;

    JEL classification:

    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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