Order Flow and Exchange Rate Dynamics

46 Pages Posted: 19 Jul 2000 Last revised: 31 Dec 2022

See all articles by Martin D.D. Evans

Martin D.D. Evans

Georgetown University - Department of Economics

Richard K. Lyons

University of California, Berkeley; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 1999

Abstract

Macroeconomic models of nominal exchange rates perform poorly. In sample, R2 statistics as high as 10 percent are rare. Out of sample, these models are typically out-forecast by a na‹ve random walk. This paper presents a model of a new kind. Instead of relying exclusively on macroeconomic determinants, the model includes a determinant from the field of microstructure-order flow. Order flow is the proximate determinant of price in all microstructure models. This is a radically different approach to exchange rate determination. It is also strikingly successful in accounting for realized rates. Our model of daily exchange-rate changes produces R2 statistics above 50 percent. Out of sample, our model produces significantly better short-horizon forecasts than a random walk. For the DM/$ spot market as a whole, we find that $1 billion of net dollar purchases increases the DM price of a dollar by about 1 pfennig.

Suggested Citation

Evans, Martin D.D. and Lyons, Richard K., Order Flow and Exchange Rate Dynamics (August 1999). NBER Working Paper No. w7317, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=227572

Martin D.D. Evans (Contact Author)

Georgetown University - Department of Economics ( email )

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Richard K. Lyons

University of California, Berkeley ( email )

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