Daily Exchange Rate Behaviour and Hedging of Currency Risk

Published as
Econometric Institute Report EI2000-25/A
Published in the Journal of Applied Econometrics, (2000), Vol. 15/6

Charles S. Bos 1
Econometric and Tinbergen Institutes,
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Ronald J. Mahieu
Rotterdam School of Management,
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Herman K. van Dijk
Econometric and Tinbergen Institutes,
Erasmus University Rotterdam

August 20, 1999
August 31, 2000, revised

Abstract

We construct models which enable a decision-maker to analyze the implications of typical time series patterns of daily exchange rates for currency risk management. Our approach is Bayesian where extensive use is made of Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. The effects of several model characteristics (unit roots, GARCH, stochastic volatility, heavy tailed disturbance densities) are investigated in relation to the hedging strategies. Consequently, we can make a distinction between statistical relevance of model specifications, and the economic consequences from a risk management point of view. We compute payoffs and utilities from several alternative hedge strategies. The results indicate that modelling time varying features of exchange rate returns may lead to improved hedge behaviour within currency overlay management.

JEL classification: C11, C44, E47, G15
Keywords: Bayesian decision making, econometric modelling, exchange rates, risk management, stochastic volatility, GARCH


Footnotes:

1 Correspondence to Charles Bos, Econometric Institute, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, NL-3000 DR  Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Email: cbos@feweb.vu.nl, URL: http://www.tinbergen.nl/cbos/. We thank three anonymous referees, the co-editor, Rob Engle, Christopher Gilbert, Frank de Jong, Michel Lubrano, Allan Timmermann and participants of seminars at UC-San Diego, UCLA, UC-Irvine, EC2 in Madrid, ISBA-2000, and at universities in Stockholm, Marseilles and Amsterdam for several remarks which led to substantial improvements on earlier versions of this paper. The authors retain full responsibility for remaining errors.


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