Optimal cross hedging relationships of internationally priced commodities in the South African context

Ph.D. (Finance)Abstract: Commodities, which are a type of alternative investment, do not follow the normal characteristics of traditional investments. Because commodities do not act the same as traditional investments, the use of commodities for diversification purposes arises. Commodities can be used in normal investment decisions, which allows financial participants to improve the selection of assets included in an investment portfolio and ensure that returns are protected to some extent. Commodities have shown continuously changing co-movement over the last twenty-five years. This development has made investment decisions related to commodities more difficult and therefore resulted in more risk being present within the alternative investment class. Commodities have also shown a shift in fundamental behaviour over time, which results in findings that are not necessarily applicable to current market conditions. A second development that has occurred over the last ten to fifteen years is the financialisation of commodities as financial participants demand more investment opportunities. Without an understanding of the interaction of commodities with other financial variables or between other commodities, commodities as investment assets are limited and underutilised. The financialisation of commodities has emphasised the market efficiency related to commodities. The market efficiency has increased over the last decade as the speed of market reactions as well as the quantity of information to the market increased. These two concepts have made investing within traditional investments more difficult. With fewer traditional investment opportunities, investors have started searching for opportunities in other parts of the financial market, which has allowed alternative investments to develop as quickly as they have. Commodities have allowed for another avenue for diversification as well as hedging opportunities..