Journal of the Korea Convergence Society (한국융합학회논문지)

Korea Convergence Society (한국융합학회)
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Effects of Investors' Sentiment on Commodity Futures Prices

투자자 심리가 상품선물가격에 미치는 영향

  • Lee, Hyun-Bok (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Park, Cheol-Ho (School of Business, Chungbuk National University)
  • Received : 2017.10.02
  • Accepted : 2017.11.20
  • Published : 2017.11.28
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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between sentiment of speculators and price movements in the futures markets of WTI crude oil, copper, and wheat during the period 2003~2014 using Granger causality tests. The results indicate that speculative positions overall has no predictive power for returns in each futures market. Rather, returns seem to have effects on speculators' sentiment especially during periods of both economic expansion and recovery. During a recession, meanwhile, changes of speculators' sentiment index in the WTI crude oil and copper markets provide predictive power for returns in a positive direction, suggesting that speculators' pessimistic sentiment aggravates declines in commodity prices. Since the effects of speculative positions on market prices are ambiguous, tight regulations on speculative trading are not advisable. In a bearish market, however, regulatory bodies should consider raising speculative position limits because large speculative short positions and (or) liquidation of index traders' long positions may lead steep price declines.

본 연구는 2003~2014년 기간 동안 원유, 동, 그리고 밀 선물시장에서 투기거래자들의 투자심리와 가격 움직임 간의 관계를 그랜저(Granger) 인과관계검정을 사용하여 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 대체적으로 각 선물시장에서 투기거래 포지션은 수익률을 예측하는데 도움이 되지 못했으며, 역으로 시장수익률이 투자자들의 투자심리에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 가격상승기와 재상승 후 완만한 하락기에서 더욱 두드러진 경향을 보였다. 한편, 원유 및 동 선물시장의 가격하락기에서는 투자심리지수 변화가 양(+)의 방향으로 수익률을 예측하는 것으로 나타났는데, 이는 가격하락기에는 투자심리가 악화됨에 따라 가격의 하락폭이 더욱 확대되는 현상에 부합하는 결과이다. 투기거래 포지션이 시장가격에 미치는 영향은 뚜렷하지 않으므로 선물시장의 투기거래에 대한 정책당국의 과도한 규제는 바람직하지 않으나, 가격하락기에는 투기거래자들의 매도거래나 지수거래자들의 포지션 청산이 가격하락을 더욱 부추길 수도 있으므로 포지션 제한을 강화하는 등의 적절한 대책이 강구될 필요가 있다.

Keywords

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