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Journal of Finance Vol. 69 No. 1 2014

An Anatomy of Commodity Futures Risk Premia

Marta Szymanowska; Frans de Roon; THEO NIJMAN; ROB VAN DEN GOORBERGH

Abstract

We identify two types of risk premia in commodity futures returns: spot premia related to the risk in the underlying commodity, and term premia related to changes in the basis. Sorting on forecasting variables such as the futures basis, return momentum, volatility, inflation, hedging pressure, and liquidity results in sizable spot premia between 5% and 14% per annum and term premia between 1% and 3% per annum. We show that a single factor, the high‐minus‐low portfolio from basis sorts, explains the cross‐section of spot premia. Two additional basis factors are needed to explain the term premia.

DOI
10.1111/jofi.12096
Volume
69
Issue
1
Pages
453-482
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref bibtex:phds-export.bib

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