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Currency Momentum Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Lukas Menkhoff
  • Lucio Sarno
  • Maik Schmeling
  • Andreas Schrimpf

Abstract

We provide a broad empirical investigation of momentum strategies in the foreign exchange market. We find a signiffcant cross-sectional spread in excess returns of up to 10% p.a. between past winner and loser currencies. This spread in excess returns is not explained by traditional risk factors, it is partially explained by transaction costs and shows behavior consistent with investor under- and over-reaction. Moreover, crosssectional currency momentum has very different properties from the widely studied carry trade and is not highly correlated with returns of benchmark technical trading rules. However, there seem to be very effective limits to arbitrage which prevent momentum returns from being easily exploitable in currency markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Lukas Menkhoff & Lucio Sarno & Maik Schmeling & Andreas Schrimpf, 2011. "Currency Momentum Strategies," BIS Working Papers 366, Bank for International Settlements.
    • Handle: RePEc:bis:biswps:366
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Momentum Returns; Limits to Arbitrage; Idiosyncratic Volatility; Carry Trades;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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