Do Oil Futures Prices Predict Stock Returns?
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
6-2017
Abstract
This paper explores stock return predictability by exploiting the cross-section of oil futures prices. Motivated by the principal component analysis, we find the curvature factor of the oil futures curve predicts monthly stock returns: a 1% per month increase in the curvature factor predicts 0.4% per month decrease in stock market index return. This predictive pattern is prevailing in non-oil industry portfolios, but is absent for oil-related portfolios. The in- and out-of-sample predictive power of the curvature factor for non-oil stocks is robust and outperforms many other predictors, including oil spot prices. The predictive power of the curvature factor comes from its ability to forecast supply-side oil shocks, which only affect non-oil stocks and are hedged by oil-related stocks.
DOI
10.1016/j.jbankfin.2017.02.012
Recommended Citation
Chiang, I.E. & Hughen, W.K. (2017). Do oil futures prices predict stock returns? Journal of Banking & Finance, 79, 129-141. doi:10.1016/j.jbankfin.2017.02.012
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