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Carry Trade Activities: A Multivariate Threshold Model Analysis

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  • Dr. Matthias Gubler

Abstract

In this empirical study, we analyze the relationship between carry trade positions and some key financial as well as macroeconomic variables using a multivariate threshold model. It is often stated that the Swiss franc serves as a funding currency. We therefore focus on carry trades based on the USD/CHF and EUR/CHF currency pairs over the period from 1995 to mid-2008. We conclude that carry trades are driven to a large extent by changes in investors' risk sentiment, movements in stock market prices and exchange rate fluctuations. The adjustments of carry trade positions to unexpected movements in these variables vary between periods of high and low interest-rate differentials (IRD). While a positive shock to the IRD is followed by a rise in carry trade positions during a period of low IRD, it will trigger a decline in these positions during a period of high IRD. These results suggest that the shock to the IRD itself is not enough to compensate investors for the increased foreign exchange risk. Moreover, a positive stock market price shock is associated with a rise in carry trade positions, since investors may use stock portfolios as collateral for liquidity. A sudden unwinding of carry trades leads to significant Swiss franc appreciation. Furthermore, carry trade activities 'Granger-cause' the nominal exchange rate in periods of low IRD. The Granger causality test results further indicate feedback trading.

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  • Dr. Matthias Gubler, 2014. "Carry Trade Activities: A Multivariate Threshold Model Analysis," Working Papers 2014-06, Swiss National Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:snb:snbwpa:2014-06
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    Cited by:

    1. Bruno Thiago Tomio, 2019. "Carry trade in developing and developed countries : a Granger-causality analysis with the Toda-Yamamo to approach," Post-Print halshs-03131073, HAL.
    2. Bruno Thiago Tomio & Guillaume Vallet, 2021. "Carry Trade and Negative Policy Rates in Switzerland : Low-lying fog or storm ?," Post-Print halshs-03669561, HAL.
    3. Bruno Thiago Tomio, 2020. "Carry trade in developing and developed countries: A Granger causality analysis with the Toda-Yamamoto appr," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(3), pages 2154-2164.
    4. Aydanur GACENER-ATIŞ & Deniz ERER, 2019. "Effects of Capital Flows on Carry Trade Activities: The Case of TurkeyAbstract: Carry trade is described as the capital flow coming into a country based on interest rate differential. A negative chang," Sosyoekonomi Journal, Sosyoekonomi Society, issue 27(42).
    5. Dr. Fabian Fink & Dr. Lukas Frei & Dr. Oliver Gloede, 2020. "Short-term determinants of bilateral exchange rates: A decomposition model for the Swiss franc," Working Papers 2020-21, Swiss National Bank.
    6. Fink, Fabian & Frei, Lukas & Gloede, Oliver, 2022. "Global risk sentiment and the Swiss franc: A time-varying daily factor decomposition model," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Carry Trades; Multivariate Threshold Model; Tsay Test; Generalized Impulse Response Functions; Bootstrap Method; Granger Causality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C15 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Statistical Simulation Methods: General
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy

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