Currency risk premiums redux

Abstract

We study a large currency cross section using asset pricing methods which account for omitted-variable and measurement-error biases. First, we show that the pricing kernel includes at least three latent factors which resemble (but are not identical to) a strong U.S. “Dollar” factor, and two weak, high Sharpe ratio “Carry” and “Momentum” slope factors. Evidence for an additional “Value” factor is weaker. Second, using this pricing kernel, we find that only a small fraction of the over 100 nontradable candidate factors considered have a statistically significant risk premium – mostly relating to volatility, uncertainty and liquidity conditions, rather than macro variables.