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The Baltic Dry Index: Cyclicalities, Forecasting and Hedging Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Fotis Papailias

    (Queen's University Management School, UK)

  • Dimitrios D. Thomakos

    (Department of Economics, University of Peloponnese, Greece; The Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis, Rimini, Italy)

Abstract

The cyclical properties of the annual growth of the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) and their implications for short-to-medium term forecasting performance are investigated. We show that the BDI has a cyclical pattern which has been stable except for a period after the 2007 crisis. This pattern has implications for improved forecasting and strategic management on the future path of the BDI. To illustrate the practicality of our results, we perform an investment exercise that depends on the predicted signs. The empirical evidence supports the presence of the cyclical component and the ability of using forecast signs for improved risk management.

Suggested Citation

  • Fotis Papailias & Dimitrios D. Thomakos, 2013. "The Baltic Dry Index: Cyclicalities, Forecasting and Hedging Strategies," Working Paper series 65_13, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.
    • Handle: RePEc:rim:rimwps:65_13
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    Cited by:

    1. Zaili Yang & Esin Erol Mehmed, 2019. "Artificial neural networks in freight rate forecasting," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 21(3), pages 390-414, September.
    2. Arthur J. Lin & Hai-Yen Chang, 2020. "Volatility Transmission from Equity, Bulk Shipping, and Commodity Markets to Oil ETF and Energy Fund—A GARCH-MIDAS Model," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-21, September.
    3. Sel, Burakhan & Minner, Stefan, 2022. "A hedging policy for seaborne forward freight markets based on probabilistic forecasts," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    4. Ding, Qian & Huang, Jianbai & Chen, Jinyu, 2021. "Dynamic and frequency-domain risk spillovers among oil, gold, and foreign exchange markets: Evidence from implied volatility," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    5. Melike Bildirici & Işıl Şahin Onat & Özgür Ömer Ersin, 2023. "Forecasting BDI Sea Freight Shipment Cost, VIX Investor Sentiment and MSCI Global Stock Market Indicator Indices: LSTAR-GARCH and LSTAR-APGARCH Models," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-27, March.
    6. Miao Su & Keun Sik Park & Sung Hoon Bae, 2024. "A new exploration in Baltic Dry Index forecasting learning: application of a deep ensemble model," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 26(1), pages 21-43, March.
    7. Jason Angelopoulos, 2017. "Creating and assessing composite indicators: Dynamic applications for the port industry and seaborne trade," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 19(1), pages 126-159, March.
    8. Gu, Bingmei & Liu, Jiaguo, 2022. "Determinants of dry bulk shipping freight rates: Considering Chinese manufacturing industry and economic policy uncertainty," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 66-77.
    9. Jason Angelopoulos, 2017. "Time–frequency analysis of the Baltic Dry Index," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 19(2), pages 211-233, June.
    10. Elie Bouri & Rangan Gupta & Luca Rossini, 2022. "The Role of the Monthly ENSO in Forecasting the Daily Baltic Dry Index," Working Papers 202229, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    11. Yimiao Gu & Zhenxi Chen & Qingyang Gu, 2022. "Determinants and international influences of the Chinese freight market," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 62(5), pages 2601-2618, May.
    12. Adewuyi, Adeolu O. & Adeleke, Musefiu A. & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Aikins Abakah, Emmanuel Joel, 2023. "Dynamic linkages between shipping and commodity markets: Evidence from a novel asymmetric time-frequency method," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    13. Christos Katris & Manolis G. Kavussanos, 2021. "Time series forecasting methods for the Baltic dry index," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(8), pages 1540-1565, December.
    14. Zhang, X. & Chen, M.Y. & Wang, M.G. & Ge, Y.E. & Stanley, H.E., 2019. "A novel hybrid approach to Baltic Dry Index forecasting based on a combined dynamic fluctuation network and artificial intelligence method," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 361(C), pages 499-516.
    15. Arunava Bandyopadhyay & Prabina Rajib, 2023. "The asymmetric relationship between Baltic Dry Index and commodity spot prices: evidence from nonparametric causality-in-quantiles test," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 36(2), pages 217-237, June.
    16. Kyriazi, Foteini & Thomakos, Dimitrios D. & Guerard, John B., 2019. "Adaptive learning forecasting, with applications in forecasting agricultural prices," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 1356-1369.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Baltic Dry Index; Commodities; Concordance; Cyclical Analysis; Forecasting; Hedging; Turning Points;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling
    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General

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