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The random walk as a forecasting benchmark: drift or no drift?

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  • Imad Moosa
  • Kelly Burns

Abstract

We examine the proposition that the random walk without drift is more powerful in predicting exchange rates than the random walk with drift. It is demonstrated that there is no theoretical reason why the random walk without drift always outperforms the random walk with drift and that this is an empirical issue. The results show that while the random walk without drift can outperform the random walk with drift in terms of the RMSE, it fails to do so in terms of the ability to predict the direction of change, measures that take into account magnitude and direction, and in terms of profitability. If the drift factor is allowed to change over time by estimating the model in time-varying parameter terms, the random walk with drift performs even better.

Suggested Citation

  • Imad Moosa & Kelly Burns, 2016. "The random walk as a forecasting benchmark: drift or no drift?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(43), pages 4131-4142, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:48:y:2016:i:43:p:4131-4142
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2016.1153788
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    2. Pincheira-Brown, Pablo & Neumann, Federico, 2020. "Can we beat the Random Walk? The case of survey-based exchange rate forecasts in Chile," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).

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