“Concealed Carry” by Max Croce, accepted at Journal of Financial Economics

Concealed Carry

Spencer Andrews, Ric Colacito, Mariano (Max) Croce, Federico Gavazzoni

Accepted at Journal of Financial Economics

Abstract

The slope carry takes a long (short) position in the long-term bonds of countries with steeper (flatter) yield curves. The traditional carry takes a long (short) position in countries with high (low) short-term rates. We document that: (i) the slope carry return is slightly negative (strongly positive) in the pre (post) 2008 period, whereas it is concealed over longer samples; (ii) the traditional carry return is lower post-2008; and (iii) expected global growth and inflation declined post-2008. We connect these findings through an equilibrium model in which countries feature heterogeneous exposure to news shocks about global output and global inflation.