We analyze data from 2005 through 2009 that uniquely identify categories of traders to assess how speculators such as hedge funds and swap dealers relate to volatility and price changes. Examining various subperiods where price trends are strong, we find little evidence that speculators...

Commodity-equity return co-movements rose dramatically during the Great Recession. This development took place following what has been dubbed the “financialization” of commodity markets. We first document changes since 1995 in the relative importance of financial institutions' activity in...

In the past decade, financial institutions have assumed an ever greater role in energy derivatives (or “paper”) markets. Numerous recent studies provide novel evidence of this “financialization” and analyze the extent to which it helps explain an important aspect of the distribution of...

In the past decade, financial institutions have assumed an ever greater role in energy derivatives (or “paper”) markets. Numerous recent studies provide novel evidence of this “financialization” and analyze the extent to which it helps explain an important aspect of the distribution of...

We construct a uniquely detailed, comprehensive dataset of trader positions in U.S. energy futures markets. We find considerable changes in the make-up of the open interest between 2000 and 2010 and show that these changes impact asset pricing. Specifically, dynamic conditional correlations...

Commodity-equity and cross-commodity return co-movements rose dramatically after the 2008 financial crisis. This development took place following what has been dubbed the 'financialization' of commodity markets. We first document changes since 2000 in the intensity of speculative activity in...