The expansion of central bank communications and the increased use thereof as a policy tool to manage expectations have led to an area of research, semantic modelling, that analyses the words and phrases used by central banks. We use text-mining and read more

The expansion of central bank communications and the increased use thereof as a policy tool to manage expectations have led to an area of research, semantic modelling, that analyses the words and phrases used by central banks. We use text-mining and text-analysis techniques on South African Reserve Bank monetary policy committee statements to construct an index measuring the stance of monetary policy: a forward guidance indicator (FGI). We show that, after controlling for market expectations, FGIs provide significant explanatory power for future changes in the repurchase interest rate (the primary monetary policy instrument). Their out-of-sample predictive power is, however, weak. Furthermore, we show that FGIs are primarily driven by inflation expectations, which highlights the strong link between the SARB’s communication strategy and its inflation targeting mandate. In fact, we observe a systematic anti-inflation bias in the communicated stance of monetary policy—both absolutely and asymmetrically. Overall, Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) statements reflect relevant information on the inflationary stance and policy decisions of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), but, since forecasts are conditional on current information, they provide unreliable forward guidance. Given this finding, MPC statements should emphasize the conditional nature of the SARB’s stance, and what that implies for the future path of the policy rate.

Copula functions are flexible tools for modelling the dependence structure between variables. In this research, we extend the literature on currency-commodity relationship using copulas. We examine the dependence structure between gold, platinum mineral read more

Copula functions are flexible tools for modelling the dependence structure between variables. In this research, we extend the literature on currency-commodity relationship using copulas. We examine the dependence structure between gold, platinum mineral prices and RAND/USD exchange rate. ARMA (1, 1)-EGARCH (1, 1) and ARMA(1, 1)-APARCH (1, 1) models under different error terms including normal, student-t and skewed student-t were fitted to the returns of commodity prices and the exchange rate. Constants and time varying copulas were then employed to examine the commoditycurrency dependence structure. The results show evidence of a positive, strong dependence between gold, platinum prices and the RAND/USD exchange rate. The analysis relies on Clayton, rotated Clayton, Student-t, Gumbel, rotated Gumbel, Plackett and Joe Clayton copulas and provide an indication of leverage effects. The results of the time varying Normal copula indicate that fluctuations in gold and platinum prices generate Rand/USD volatility.

This paper examines the impact of negative commodity price shocks on financial sector stability in selected Southern African countries, namely Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Using multivariate panel data regression read more

This paper examines the impact of negative commodity price shocks on financial sector stability in selected Southern African countries, namely Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Using multivariate panel data regression analysis, with fixed effects from 2000 to 2015, the study shows that commodity price downturns result in increased non-performing loans and reduced bank profitability. Specifically, negative commodity price shocks reduce profitability as measured by the return on assets and return on equity. In addition, the study shows that there is an adverse impact on financial sector conditions, using a financial condition index as a proxy. The index was derived from a combination of measures of non-performing loans, return on assets and regulatory capital adequacy ratios, using a three variable dynamic factor model. The main transmission mechanisms through which commodity prices shocks affect financial stability are GDP growth, fiscal revenue, savings and the size of the fiscal deficit.

Modelling volatility interdependence between crude oil and foreign exchange markets returns provides useful insights into how information is transmitted from the crude oil market to the foreign exchange market and vice versa. This paper evaluates dynamic read more

Modelling volatility interdependence between crude oil and foreign exchange markets returns provides useful insights into how information is transmitted from the crude oil market to the foreign exchange market and vice versa. This paper evaluates dynamic interdependence between crude oil and foreign exchange markets by applying Baba, Engle, Kraft and Kroner (1990) (BEKK) specifications to crude oil prices and Naira/USD exchange rates. Estimates from the BEKK-GARCH (1,1) model indicate evidence of unidirectional shock and volatility transmission from crude oil market to foreign exchange market in Nigeria. Evidence of unidirectional volatility transmission provides support for partial interdependence between the markets in Nigeria. This finding has important implications for financial risk management, foreign exchange market regulation and crude oil revenue management policy.

Trade finance (or bank intermediated trade finance) plays an integral role in facilitating trade across the globe: most studies assert that trade finance (TF) forms part of more than 80% of total global trade. Although TF has increased in importance for read more

Trade finance (or bank intermediated trade finance) plays an integral role in facilitating trade across the globe: most studies assert that trade finance (TF) forms part of more than 80% of total global trade. Although TF has increased in importance for policy makers after the financial crises of 2008, most studies conducted over the last decade (2009 onward) focussed on the supply side of TF and how its reduction has hampered trade. By applying a robust least squares maximum likelihood estimation technique, and using bi-squares and median absolute deviation-centred (MADMED) scaling, this study investigates the international and domestic variables driving demand for TF for several listed South African companies. This study identified 12 instances of individually significant relationships between certain industries and the independent variable (both domestic and international financial and economic variables). It also found significant regression results for the retail industry at first differences and identified that macro-economic and financial variables (such as the US gross domestic product and the rand-British pound exchange rate) influenced the demand for retail TF. The sole significant domestic variable was South African bank asset-to-capital ratios, showing that both financial and economic factors are relevant in identifying TF demand drivers of South African companies.

The classical portfolio theory suggests that higher returns of an asset are justified by the higher risk it carries, supported by multi-factor cross-sectional regressions. By investigating the time series and frequency transformation of the Russell 3000 read more

The classical portfolio theory suggests that higher returns of an asset are justified by the higher risk it carries, supported by multi-factor cross-sectional regressions. By investigating the time series and frequency transformation of the Russell 3000 constituents, this study shows that there are weak links between risk and return, as well as trade volume and return. Only 19,02% (13,45%) constituents have significantly positive (negative) risk and return relationships. In addition, only 7,66% (12,77%) of the returns are positively (negatively) related to trade volume. We use the cross-wavelet power spectrums to provide additional evidence on the weak links. The conclusions from crosssectional analysis might lead to the asset misallocation in a time series setting.