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A Transaction Data Study of the Forward Bias Puzzle

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  • Francis Breedon

    (Queen Mary, University of London)

  • Dagfinn Rime

    (Norges Bank (Central Bank of Norway))

  • Paolo Vital

    (University d'Annunzio)

Abstract

Using ten years of FX transactions data we demonstrate that a large share of the FX forward discount bias can be accounted for by order flow. A simple microstructure-based decomposition suggests that order flow creates a timevarying risk premium that is correlated with the forward discount. The order flow related risk premium is particularly important in currency pairs traditionally associated with carry trade activity, as for these crosses it accounts for more than half of the forward bias (with the rest accounted for by systematic forecasting errors). We also find evidence that order flow is partly driven by carry trade activity, which is itself is driven by expectations of carry trade profits. However, carry trading increases currency-crash risk in that the carry-induced order flow generates negative skewness in FX returns.

Suggested Citation

  • Francis Breedon & Dagfinn Rime & Paolo Vital, 2010. "A Transaction Data Study of the Forward Bias Puzzle," Working Paper 2010/26, Norges Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:bno:worpap:2010_26
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    Cited by:

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    2. Dagfinn Rime & Hans Jørgen Tranvåg, 2012. "Flows Of The Pacific: Asian Foreign Exchange Markets Through Tranquility And Turbulence," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(3), pages 434-466, August.
    3. Brian Lucey & Grace Loring, 2012. "Forward Exchange Rate Biasedness across Developed and Developing Country Currencies - Do Observed Patterns Persist Out of Sample?Abstract:," The Institute for International Integration Studies Discussion Paper Series iiisdp404, IIIS.
    4. Grossmann, Axel & Simpson, Marc W., 2015. "Bid-ask spreads, deviations from PPP and the forward prediction error: The case of the British pound and the euro," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 124-139.
    5. Miah, Fazlul & Altiti, Omar, 2020. "Risk premium or irrational expectations? An investigation into the causes of forward discount bias across 27 developed and developing economies forward rates," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    6. Loring, Grace & Lucey, Brian, 2013. "An analysis of forward exchange rate biasedness across developed and developing country currencies: Do observed patterns persist out of sample?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 14-28.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Forward Discount Puzzle; FX Microstructure; Carry Trade; Survey Data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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