On the cross-sectional relation between exchange rates and future fundamentals

Sabrine Kharrat, Yacine Hammami and Ibrahim Fatnassi

Economic Modelling, 2020, vol. 89, issue C, 484-501

Abstract: Using a cross-sectional perspective, we investigate the implications of the present-value model of exchange rates for a sample of 64 countries during 1971–2015, excluding periods of pegged exchange rates. Our paper uses all bilateral exchange rate pairs instead of choosing a reference currency and extends the list of fundamentals that have been examined in the previous literature by using the variables present in the behavioral equilibrium exchange rate (BEER) model. We document that exchange rates are strongly connected to future fundamentals using forecast horizons from one month to 10 years. Our findings highlight that unlike for time-series and panel data, the evidence against the “exchange rate disconnect puzzle” is more robust using a cross-sectional perspective. Given the relevance of fundamental factors in determining exchange rates dynamics we examine whether they are useful in constructing profitable investment strategies. Except for inflation, we find that a significant relation between exchange rates and a fundamental does not lead necessarily to a profitable investment strategy. Finally, we document that using the cross-rates of exchange rates leads to a significant improvement in the profitability of the carry trade strategy.

Keywords: Exchange rates; Present-value model; Economic fundamentals; Forecasting; Currency returns; Carry trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F31 G10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:89:y:2020:i:c:p:484-501

DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2019.11.024

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