A new wavelet-based ultra-high-frequency analysis of triangular currency arbitrage

Nikola Gradojevic, Deniz Erdemlioglu and Ramazan Gencay

Economic Modelling, 2020, vol. 85, issue C, 57-73

Abstract: We develop a new framework to characterize the dynamics of triangular (three-point) arbitrage in electronic foreign exchange markets. To examine the properties of arbitrage, we propose a wavelet-based regression approach that is robust to estimation errors, measurement bias and persistence. Relying on this wavelet-based (denoising) inference, we consider various liquidity and market risk indicators to predict arbitrage in a unique ultra-high-frequency exchange rate data set. We find strong empirical evidence that limit order book, realized volatility and cross-correlations help forecast triangular arbitrage profits. The estimates are statistically significant and relevant for investors such that on average 80−100 arbitrage opportunities exist with a short duration (100−500 ms) on a daily basis. Our analysis also reveals that triangular arbitrage opportunities are counter-cyclical at ultra-high-frequency levels: arbitrage returns tend to increase (decrease) in periods when volatility risk and correlations are relatively low (high). We show that liquidity-driven microstructure measures, however, appear to be more powerful in exploiting arbitrage profits when compared to market-driven factors.

Keywords: Foreign exchange markets; Triangular arbitrage; Limit order book; Wavelets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F31 G15 G17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:85:y:2020:i:c:p:57-73

DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2019.05.006

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