From Oil to Sterling: How Commodity Equity Signals Stabilize Currency Volatility in a Post-Crisis Economy

17 August 2025, Version 1
This content is an early or alternative research output and has not been peer-reviewed by Cambridge University Press at the time of posting.

Abstract

This paper develops a stochastic model to examine how oil-linked equity prices influence the volatility of the British pound in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Drawing on behavioral macroeconomic insights and post-crisis empirical data, the study identifies a forward-looking feedback loop whereby oil sector valuations amplify or stabilize currency fluctuations through expectations-driven dynamics. Using a discrete-time stochastic process, we find that oil-related stocks function as automatic stabilizers by internalizing external shocks and moderating exchange rate volatility. These findings bridge the gap between commodity-currency literature and Keynesian macro-financial theory, demonstrating the potential of sector-specific financial instruments to mitigate instability under conditions of uncertainty and hysteresis.

Keywords

Currency volatility
Oil stock prices
Keynesian feedback
Financial crisis
Behavioral macroeconomics

Supplementary materials

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Description
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Title
PYTHON CODE FOR THE PAPER.
Description
PYTHON CODE FOR THE PAPER.
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Title
Volatility of the pound.
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Volatility of the pound.
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