Financial Crises and Adaptive Market Hypothesis: An Evidence from International Commodities traded at New York Stock Exchange

Abstract

This study evaluates the varying degree of predictability of commodities return through empirical analysis of AMH (Adaptive Market Hypothesis). We divide daily returns data (from 1996 to 2013) of commodities indices (Gold, Metal, Oil& Silver) into different crisis periods. We subject all the subsamples to linear/nonlinear tests to reveal how market efficiency (independency of returns) has behaved over time. All the linear (except variance ratio) and nonlinear tests are evident that commodity indices returns have been predictable (dependent) in some crisis periods while unpredictable (dependence) in the others thus consistent with the implication of AMH. Therefore, commodities markets are adaptive markets. The findings suggest the behavior of commodities’ markets is best explained by AMH than conventional/traditional EMH (Efficient Market Hypothesis).