An Empirical Test of the Effect of Basis Risk on Cash Market Positions

Posted: 23 Jul 1999

Date Written: January 1995

Abstract

Traditional theory holds that hedgers use futures markets to reduce the amount of price risk they bear. In doing so, they trade price risk for basis risk, that is, unexpected movements in the difference between the spot and futures prices. Theoretical work has shown that the presence of basis risk reduces the position in the cash market as well as the relative use of futures as a hedging instrument. This paper empirically measures the effect of basis risk on the cash market position, using data on the storage of corn. Results show that basis risk statistically and economically significantly reduces the level of storage. The implications of basis risk on cash market positions extend beyond commodity storage to any hedging situation, including the use of currency futures to insure against exchange rate risk.

JEL Classification: G1

Suggested Citation

Netz, Janet S., An Empirical Test of the Effect of Basis Risk on Cash Market Positions (January 1995). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5816

Janet S. Netz (Contact Author)

ApplEcon, LLC ( email )

617 East Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
United States
(734) 213-1930 (Phone)

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