Macroeconomic Instability in the European Monetary System?

This paper analyses the impact of the establishment of the European Monetary System (EMS) on a number of macroeconomic variables, such as exchange rates, money, interest rates and prices for member countries participating in the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). We examine the instability in terms of multiple structural breaks in the variance of the series. To that end, we employ two procedures: the OLS-based tests to detect multiple structural breaks, proposed by Bai and Perron (1998, 2003) and several procedures based on Information Criterion joint with the so called sequential procedure suggested by Bai and Perron (2003). Results indicate that there is some evidence of structural breaks in volatility across investigated variables, playing the realignments in the ERM a significant role in the reduction of volatility in some countries and sub-periods. In this sense, the results tend to support the hypothesis that the EMS has contributed to reduce the macroeconomic volatility of the member countries.European Monetary System, multiple structural breaks, volatility

Structural Breaks in Volatility: Evidence for the OECD Real Exchange Rates

This paper analyses whether volatility changes in the bilateral and effective real exchange rates of the OECD industrial countries are associated with a specific nominal exchange rate regime. To that end, we examine the real exchange rate behaviour during the 1960-2003 period, therefore covering both the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates and adoption of generalised floating exchange rates from 1973. We make use of an econometric methodology based on the Hansen (1997)'s approximation to the p-values of the supreme, exponential and average statistics developed by Andrews (1993) and Andrews and Ploberger (1994). This methodology allows us to obtain a profile of p-values and to delimit periods of stability and instability in the variance of real exchange rates. Results suggest that there is evidence in favour of the non-neutrality of nominal exchange rate regime regarding real exchange rate volatility.Exchange rate regimes, real exchange rate, volatility

The euro and the volatility of exchange rates

This paper attempts to determine whether or not the introduction of the euro affected the volatility of bilateral exchange rates all over the world. To that end, we examine the exchange rate behaviour for a set of OECD and non-OECD countries during the 1993-2007 period. Two econometric methods are implemented for this purpose: the OLS-based tests to detect multiple structural breaks, as proposed by Bai and Perron (1998, 2003), and several procedures based on Information Criterion together with the so-called sequential procedure suggested by Bai and Perron (2003). Although results suggest evidence of structural breaks in volatility across investigated variables, there is high heterogeneity regarding the located dates. Moreover, the realignments in the Exchange Rate Mechanism seem to play a significant role in the reduction of volatility in some European countries and transition economies.Exchange rates, volatility

Volatility in EMU sovereign bond yields: Permanent and transitory components

This paper explores the evolving relationship in the volatility of sovereign yields in the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). To that end, we examine the behaviour for daily yields for 11 EMU countries (EMU-11), during the 2001-2010 period. In a first step, we decompose volatility in permanent and transitory components using Engel and Lee (1999)´s component-GARCH model. Results suggest that transitory shifts in debt market sentiment tend to be less important determinants of bond-yield volatility than shocks to the underlying fundamentals. In a second step, we develop a correlation and causality analysis that indicates the existence of two different groups of countries closed linked: core EMU countries and peripheral EMU countries. Finally, in a third step, we make a cluster analysis that further supports our results regarding the existence of two different groups of countries, with different positions regarding the stability of public finance.Este artículo explora la cambiante volatilidad de los rendimientos de la deuda soberana en la Unión Económica y Monetaria (UEM). Para ello, se examina el comportamiento de los rendimientos diarios de 11 países de la UEM (UEM-11), durante el período 2001-2010. En un primer paso, descomponemos la volatilidad de los componentes permanentes y transitorios utilizando el modelo GARCH de componentes propuesto por Engel y Lee (1999). Nuestros resultados sugieren que los componentes transitorios, relacionados con la percepción del mercado, tienden a ser menos importantes en la explicación de la volatilidad o riesgo de los bonos que las perturbaciones registradas en las variables macroeconómicas subyacentes. En un segundo paso, se desarrolla un análisis de correlación y causalidad que indica la existencia de dos grupos diferentes de países estrechamente relacionados: los países que conforman el núcleo de la UEM y los países periféricos de la UEM. Por último, en una tercera etapa, se realiza un análisis cluster que respalda nuestros resultados sobre la existencia de dos grupos diferentes de países, con distintas posiciones respecto a la estabilidad de las finanzas públicas.Conditional variance, Component model, Cluster analysis, Sovereign bond yields, Economic and Monetary Union, Varianza condicional, El modelo de componentes, Análisis de conglomerados, Los rendimientos de los bonos soberanos, Unión Económica y Monetaria.

Volatility in EMU sovereign bond yields: Permanent and transitory components

This paper explores the evolving relationship in the volatility of sovereign yields in the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). To that end, we examine the behaviour for daily yields for 11 EMU countries (EMU-11), during the 2001-2010 period. In a first step, we decompose volatility in permanent and transitory components using Engel and Lee (1999)´s component-GARCH model. Results suggest that transitory shifts in debt market sentiment tend to be less important determinants of bond-yield volatility than shocks to the underlying fundamentals. In a second step, we develop a correlation and causality analysis that indicates the existence of two different groups of countries closed linked: core EMU countries and peripheral EMU countries. Finally, in a third step, we make a cluster analysis that further support our results regarding the existence of two different groups of countries, with different positions regarding the stability of public finance.Conditional variance, Component model, Cluster analysis, Sovereign bond yields, Economic and Monetary Union

Volatility spillovers between foreing-exchange and stock markets

This paper empirically analyses the evidence of intra-spillovers and inter-spillovers between foreign exchange and stock markets in the seven economies which concentrate the majority of foreign exchange transactions (i.e. United Kingdom, Euro area, Australia, Swiss, Canada, United Kingdom and Japan), using daily data, during the period 1990 to 2015 and during the pre-global and post-global financial crisis periods. To that end, we employ two econometric methodologies: the C-GARCH methodology by Engle and Lee (1999) and the SVAR framework (Sohel Azad et al., 2015). Results suggest that: (i) permanent and transitory components of the conditional variance exhibit several well-known peaks in volatilities; (ii) the long-run volatility relationships are stronger than the short-run linkages volatility with a reinforcement during the post-global financial crisis period; (iii) the presence of intra-spillovers and inter-spillovers increases substantially during the post-global financial crisis period and (iv) in all samples, the stock markets play a dominant role in the transmission of long-run and short-run volatility, except for in the period after the Global Financial Crisis, where the foreign-exchange markets are the main long-run volatility triggers

Structural breaks in volatility: Evidence for the OECD and non-OECD real exchange rates

This paper attempts to determine whether or not nominal exchange rate regimes affect the volatility of bilateral and effective real exchange rates. To that end, we examine the real exchange rate behaviour for a set of OECD and non-OECD countries during the 1960–2006 period, therefore covering both the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates and the adoption of generalised floating exchange rates from 1973. We make use of an econometric methodology based on the Hansen’s (Hansen, B.E., 1997. Approximate asymptotic P values for structural-change tests. Journal of Business and Economic Statistics 15 (1), 60–67) approximation to the p-values of the supreme, exponential and average statistics developed by Andrews (Andrews, D., 1993. Test for parameter instability and structural change with unknown change point. Econometrica 61 (4), 821–856) and Andrews and Ploberger (Andrews, D., Ploberger, W., 1994. Optimal tests when a nuisance parameter is present only under the alternative. Econometrica 62 (6), 1383–1414). This methodology allows us to obtain a profile of p-values and to delimit periods of stability and instability in the variance of real exchange rates. Results suggest that there is clear evidence in favour of the non-neutrality of nominal exchange rate regime regarding real exchange rate volatility for developed countries, but not in the case of developing or emerging countries

Volatility spillovers between foreign exchange and stock markets in industrialized countries

This paper empirically analyses the evidence of intra-spillovers and inter-spillovers between foreign exchange and stock markets in the seven economies which constitute the majority of foreign exchange transactions (i.e. the United Kingdom, the United States, the Euro area, Australia, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan). Daily data during the period 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2015 and during the pre-global and post-global financial crisis periods is used. To that end, we employ two econometric methodologies: the C-GARCH methodology and the SVAR framework. Results suggest that: (I) permanent and transitory components of the conditional variance exhibit peaks in volatility during episodes of growing economic and financial instability;(II)the long-run volatility relationships are stronger than the short-run volatility linkages with a reinforcement during the post-global financial crisis period; (III) the presence of intraspillovers and inter-spillovers increases substantially during the post-global financial crisis period and (IV) the stock markets play a dominant role in the transmission of long-run and short-run volatility in all samples, except for the period after the global financial crisis, where the foreign exchange markets are the main long-run volatility triggers

Growth dynamics, financial crises and exchange rate regimes

We empirically investigate the impact of financial crises and nominal exchange rate regime changes on growth dynamics. To that end, we estimate autoregressive models using panel data for 163 countries classified into four income groups during the period 1970–2011. Results suggest that financial crises significantly reduce short-run and long-run growth for high-income and lower-middle-income countries. In the case of the upper-middle-income countries, financial crises inflict a negative and statistically significant impact on short-run growth but only a marginally significant effect on long-run growth, while for lower-income countries they only have a short-run influence. As for the exchange rate regimes, we find that they only positively affect the short-run growth rate for lower-middle-income and low-income countries, not showing any significant impact on long-run growth rates

Temporary ban on short positions and financial market volatility: evidence from the Madrid Stock Market

This article analyses the effect of the introduction of temporary ban on short positions in the Spanish market on the volatility of both the closing price and the trading volume of the underlying index as well as on the price of the main financial institutions. Using an econometric procedure for detecting structural breaks in the series, we study the period January 2000–December 2013. Our results do not suggest any significant impact on variance, neither on price nor on trade volume