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Portfolio Diversification with Commodities in Times of Financialization

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  • Adam Zaremba

    (Poznań University of Economics, al. Niepodległosci, 61-875 Poznań, Poland)

Abstract

The study concentrates on the benefits of passive commodity investments in the context of the phenomenon of financialization.The research investigates the implications of increase in the correlation coefficients between equity and commodity investments for investors in financial markets. The paper is composed of several parts. First, the attributes of commodity investments and their benefits in the portfolio optimization are explored. Second, the phenomenon of the financialization is described and the research hypothesis is developed. Next, an empirical analysis is performed. I simulate the mean-variance spanning tests to examine the benefits of commodity investments before and after accounting for the impact of financialization. I proceed separate analysisfor pre-and post-financialization period. The empirical research is based on asset classes’ returns and other related variables from years 1991-2012. The performed investigations indicate that the market financialization may have significant implicationsfor commodity investors. Due to increase in correlation coefficients, the inclusion of the commodity futures in the traditional stock-bond portfolio appears to be no longer reasonable.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Zaremba, 2015. "Portfolio Diversification with Commodities in Times of Financialization," International Journal of Finance & Banking Studies, Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 4(1), pages 18-36, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbs:ijfbss:v:4:y:2015:i:1:p:18-36
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    References listed on IDEAS

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