Market Backwardation and The Theory of Storage: An Empirical Investigation of Indian Gold Futures Markets

2021 ◽  
pp. 097215092110463
Author(s):  
Jyoti Raj Nair ◽  
Brajesh Kumar ◽  
Sarveshwar Inani

The backwardation and contango in the futures markets are explained by two popular theories, namely the theory of storage and the theory of risk premium. The investment assets tend to follow the theory of risk premium, whereas the consumption assets are likely to follow the theory of storage. As India is the largest importer of gold, and gold is used for consumption purposes (mostly by jewellers, who store gold as a consumption commodity), we empirically test whether backwardation in the gold market is explained by the theory of storage. We use the indirect test of the theory of storage developed by Fama and French (1988 , Journal of Finance, Vol. 4, p. 1075), calculate the interest adjusted basis (IAB) and test the implications of the theory of storage. We also use two asymmetric models of the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (GARCH) family to understand the asymmetric volatility of IAB. We find that the Indian gold futures markets partially follow the theory of storage; however, we do not find any support of asymmetric behaviour of IAB in the contango and backwardation markets. Our results suggest that in the context of the Indian gold market, keeping inventory has minimal benefits, and gold behaves more like an investment asset.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinpeng Zhang ◽  
Panpan Zhu ◽  
Yingying Xu

The Bitcoin market has become a research hotspot after the outbreak of Covid-19. In this paper, we focus on the relationships between the Bitcoin spot and futures. Specifically, we adopt the vector autoregression-dynamic correlation coefficient-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (VAR-DCC-GARCH) model and vector autoregression-Baba, Engle, Kraft, and Kroner-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (VAR-BEKK-GARCH) models and calculate the hedging effectiveness (HE) value to investigate the dynamic correlation and volatility spillover and assess the risk reduction of the Bitcoin futures to spot. The empirical results show that the Bitcoin spot and futures markets are highly connected; second, there exists a bi-directional volatility spillover between the spot and futures market; third, the HE value is equal to 0.6446, which indicates that Bitcoin futures can indeed hedge the risks in the Bitcoin spot market. Furthermore, we update the data to the post-Covid-19 period to do the robustness checks. The results do not change our conclusion that Bitcoin futures can hedge the risks in the Bitcoin spot market, and besides, the post-Covid-19 results indicate that the hedging ability of Bitcoin futures increased. Finally, we test whether the gold futures can be used as a Bitcoin spot market hedge, and we further control other cryptocurrencies to illustrate the hedging ability of the Bitcoin futures to the Bitcoin spot. Overall, the empirical results in this paper will surely benefit the related investors in the Bitcoin market.


2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Mallikarjunappa ◽  
E M Afsal

This paper analyses information-based superiority of markets mainly with an objective of exploring arbitrage opportunities. It attempts to determine the lead-lag relationship between spot and futures markets in the Indian context by using high frequency price data of twelve individual stocks, observed at one-minute interval. The study applies the concept of co-integration and establishes the spot-futures relationship using Vector Error Correction Mechanism (VECM) represented by EGARCH framework. To study the price discovery process in the two markets, five lags each of one-minute resolution for nine individual stocks and four lags for the remaining three stocks are chosen. The key results of the study are given below: There is a contemporaneous and bi-directional lead-lag relationship between the spot and futures markets. A feedback mechanism of short life is functional between the two markets. Price discovery occurs in both the markets simultaneously. There exists short-term disequilibrium that could be corrected in the next period. Volatility spillover from spot market to futures market is present in such a way that a decrease in spot volatility leads to a decrease in futures volatility. Volatility shocks are asymmetric and persistent in both the markets. Spillover from futures market to spot market is not significant. Neither spot nor futures assume a considerable leading role and neither of the markets is supreme in price discovery. In the case of 33.33 per cent of spot values and 33.33 per cent of futures values, there exists short-term disequilibrium that could be corrected in the next period by decreasing the prices. Spot market volatility spills over to futures market in most of the cases (66.66 %) and a decrease in spot volatility brings about a decrease in futures volatility in 50 per cent of the cases. Spillover effect from futures to spot market is present and significant in 91.66 per cent of stocks and is more than the spillover effect from spot to futures (50% valid cases). The markets are highly integrated. Asymmetric behaviour of volatility shocks is mixed in both the markets. Asymmetric volatility is detected in 50 per cent of the cases of spot market and 58.33 per cent cases of futures market. Stocks exhibiting asymmetric volatility show more sensitivity to negative shocks. There are no cases of market becoming more volatile in response to good news.


2015 ◽  
Vol 02 (01) ◽  
pp. 1550002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Stepanek

Commodity future prices are explained either by price expectations and a risk premium in the theory of normal backwardation or with the theory of storage in a cost of carry valuation. Both approaches are compared in separate equations with Johansen cointegration tests. The data sample contains five LME metals with maturities of 3–27 months and real inventory data. It is found that expected spot prices explain only short maturity future prices. But the cost of carry approach, with the inventory level-dependent convenience yield, explains prices for all maturities.


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