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Trading Volume, Illiquidity and Commonalities in FX Markets

Author

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  • Angelo Ranaldo
  • Paolo Santucci de Magistris

Abstract

In a regime of floating FX rates and open economies, it is important to understand the way through which FX rates, volatility, and trading volume interrelate. To uncover this, we provide a simple theoretical framework to jointly explore these factors in a multi-currency environment. Through the use of a unique intraday data representative for the global FX market, the empirical analysis validates our theoretical predictions: (i) more disagreement increases FX trading volume, volatility, and illiquidity, (ii) stronger commonalities pertain to more effi cient (arbitrage-free) currencies, and (iii) the Amihud (2002) measure, for which we provide a theoretical underpinning, is effective in measuring FX illiquidity. Not only do these findings support an integrated analysis of FX rate evolution and risk, but our work also offers a straightforward method to measure FX illiquidity and commonality. For investors, these insights should increase the e fficiency of trading and risk analysis. For policy makers, our work highlights the developments of FX global volume, volatility, and illiquidity across time and currencies, which can be important for the implementation of monetary policy and financial stability.

Suggested Citation

  • Angelo Ranaldo & Paolo Santucci de Magistris, 2018. "Trading Volume, Illiquidity and Commonalities in FX Markets," Working Papers on Finance 1823, University of St. Gallen, School of Finance, revised Oct 2019.
    • Handle: RePEc:usg:sfwpfi:2018:23
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    Cited by:

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    3. Sensoy, Ahmet & Uzun, Sevcan & Lucey, Brian M., 2021. "Commonality in FX liquidity: High-frequency evidence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    4. Chen, Yu-Lun & Xu, Ke, 2021. "The impact of RMB’s SDR inclusion on price discovery in onshore-offshore markets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    FX Trading Volume; Volatility; Illiquidity; Commonalities; Arbitrage;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C15 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Statistical Simulation Methods: General
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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