Assessment and optimization of clean energy equity risks and commodity price volatility indexes: Implications for sustainability. (10th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dutta, Anupam; Bouri, Elie; Das, Debojyoti; Roubaud, David
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 243(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-10
• Subjects: Clean energy equities -- Commodity market volatility -- Time-varying correlations -- Hedging effectiveness; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118669
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Although clean energy equities have emerged as a new asset class for market participants, especially environmentally concerned investors, existing and previous studies pay very little attention to how equity investors in clean energy markets can reduce their downside risk. The authors of this paper address this void by considering the roles of the commodity market volatility indexes of crude oil, gold and silver. The results of the dynamic conditional correlation model show that commodity volatilities and clean energy equity prices move in opposite directions. Based on the hedging effectiveness, each of the three volatility indexes acts as an effective tool for reducing the risk of clean energy equity indexes. The implied volatility index of crude oil is the most effective tool, followed by that of gold and silver. Further analysis indicates the robustness of the results to the application of an asymmetric conditional correlation model. The findings extend the limited understanding of how to hedge the downside risk of clean energy stock indexes, and provide useful implications to market participants on the ability of implied volatility indexes of major commodities to hedge that risk. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Hedging roles of commodity volatility indexes for clean energy stocks are examined. Dynamic conditional correlation model and hedging effectiveness index are applied. Commodity volatilities and clean energy stock prices move in opposite directions. Each of the volatility indexes of oil, gold, and silver is an effective hedge. Crude oil volatility index is the most effective hedge, followed by that of metals.