This thesis is among the first market microstructure studies of an index futures market with designated market makers in the academic literature. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate intraday patterns of key variables, the relative size of the components of the quoted bid-ask spread, and the order decisions of uninformed traders, in a continuous dealer market for index futures with market makers. Overall, our findings aim to contribute to a better understanding of the roles of market makers and public customers in price formation. Intraday patterns of financial market variables such as trade price, volume, trade size, quoted spreads, depth, and volatility separately for designated market makers and public customers are examined. The lack of relevant and appropriate data in futures markets, as evidenced by Hasbrouck (2003) and Kurov (2005), has inhibited the growth of market microstructure in futures markets. Individual orders, quotes, trader identification, and transactions from June 2003 to December 2004, for FTSEurofirst 80 and 100 index futures are used in the study. Inclusion of the parties to order execution distinguishes this data set from most other futures microstructure sources. As this thesis is the first known academic study of the extant market microstructure of the FTSEurofirst index futures, the institutional aspects of the trading process for the FTSEurofirst index futures are also explored. An alternative method for estimating three cost components as a proportion of the bid-ask spread is developed. A framework is developed for the order decision process of an uninformed trader for the first time in a futures market with market makers. The results of this thesis may have implications for other financial markets and the field of market microstructure.

Choy Siu Kai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-37). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1-2 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.3-9 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- An Overview of Hong Kong Security Market and Data Description --- p.10-18 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Methodology --- p.19-24 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Futures and Mini Futures Results --- p.25-28 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Index and Futures Contracts Results --- p.29-32 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.33-34 / References --- p.35-37 / Appendix --- p.38-40 / Tables --- p.41-52 / Graphs --- p.53-57

This thesis aims to provide detailed investigation into the role and functioning of the FTSE-100 stock index futures contract, by examining four interrelated issues. Chapter 1 reviews the literature, demonstrating that stock index futures can increase investor utility by offering hedging and investment opportunities. Further, the price discovery role of futures is discussed. Chapter 2 investigates the risk return relationship for the FTSE-100 contract within a CAPM framework. While CAPM adequately explains returns prior to October 1987, post-crash the contract is riskier and excess returns and a day of the week effect are evident. Chapter 3 examines the impact of futures on the underlying spot market using GARCH, which allows examination of the link between information and volatility. While spot prices are more volatile post-futures, this is due to more rapid impounding of information. The view that futures destabilise spot markets and should be subject to further regulation is questioned. Chapter 4 examines futures market efficiency using the Johansen cointegration procedure and variance bounds tests which are developed here. Results suggest futures prices provide unbiased predictions of future spot prices for 1, 2 and 4 months prior to maturity of the contract. For 3, 5 and 6 months prior to maturity the unbiasedness hypothesis does not hold. Chapter 5 discusses the major role of futures; hedging. Hedge ratios and hedging effectiveness are examined in relation to duration and expiration effects. Hedge ratio stability is also examined. Finally, hedging strategies based on historical information are examined. Results show there are duration and expiration effect, hedge ratios are stationary and using historical information does not greatly reduce hedging effectiveness. The FTSE-100 contract is shown to be a highly effective means by which to hedge risk. Chapter 6 provides a summary and concluding remarks concerning the relevance of the research carried out here.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-04-12T13:46:00Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE (2015-08-18) - ABDINARDO MOREIRA BARRETO DE OLIVEIRA.pdf: 3951622 bytes, checksum: d0cb6e21050967dd0af31e235ae9d711 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-12T13:46:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE (2015-08-18) - ABDINARDO MOREIRA BARRETO DE OLIVEIRA.pdf: 3951622 bytes, checksum: d0cb6e21050967dd0af31e235ae9d711 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-15 / FACEPE / O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as configurações nas quais as estratégias de hedging são efetivas na diminuição do risco de preço da fruticultura exportadora brasileira. Tal pesquisa é justificada pela seguinte problema: caso fosse possível os fruticultores serem usuários do mercado de derivativos, não se sabe como as estratégias de hedging seriam configuradas para melhor lhes atenderem. Assim, foram calculados os preços médios mensais US$ FOB/kg entre 1989 e 2013, a partir dos dados fornecidos pelo site AliceWeb2, para as seguintes frutas: manga, melão e uva. Elas foram escolhidas por representarem 62% do valor recebido em dólares e 48% do volume exportado das frutas brasileiras. Foram usados os modelos ARIMA/GARCH para obter os preços futuros e estimar o hedge próprio, e adotados os preços futuros WTI do petróleo para estimar o cross-hedge. Realizaram-se previsões para cada abordagem de hedging empregada no estudo: Variância Mínima, Média-Variância, BEKKGARCH, Dominância Estocástica e VaR/CVaR. Em relação ao hedge próprio, o contrato com vencimento em 07 meses e em posição vendida, pela abordagem BEKK-GARCH, foi o mais efetivo para a manga (H = -0,725; HE = 35,8%); em 06 meses e em posição comprada, pela abordagem U-MEG (n = 300), foi o mais efetivo para o melão (H = 0,557; HE = 17,9%); e em 06 meses e em posição vendida, pela abordagem U-MEG (n = 300), foi o mais efetivo para a uva (H = -0,272; HE = 34,8%). Considerando o cross-hedge, o contrato com vencimento em 11 meses e em posição comprada, pela abordagem BEKK-GARCH, foi o mais efetivo, para a manga (H = 0,018; HE = 22%); o contrato com vencimento em 12 meses e em posição vendida, pela abordagem da Variância Mínima, foi o mais efetivo para o melão (H = -0,003; HE = 8,7%); e o contrato com vencimento em 11 meses e em posição vendida, pela abordagem BEKK-GARCH, foi o mais efetivo, para a uva (H = -0,022; HE = 22,1%). Vale ressaltar a dificuldade do cross-hedge a ser feito para o melão, dado os diminutos valores de H a serem realizados em termos práticos, demandando a realização de investigações futuras para melhorar este resultado em particular. / The objective of this study was to verify the settings in which the hedging strategies are effective in reducing the price risk in the Brazilian export fruits. Such research is justified by the following problem: if it were possible fruit growers are users of the derivatives market, it is not known how hedging strategies would be configured to best meet them. Thus, they were calculated the monthly average prices FOB US$/kg between 1989 and 2013, based on data provided by AliceWeb2 site for the following fruits: mango, melon and grape. They were chosen because they represent 62% of the amount received in dollars and 48% of the exported volume of Brazilian fruits. They were used the ARIMA / GARCH models to get the future prices and estimate the own hedge, and adopted the WTI future price of oil to estimate the cross-hedge. It was conducted estimations for each hedging approach used in the study: Minimum Variance, Mean-Variance, BEKK-GARCH, Stochastic Dominance and VaR/CVaR. Regarding to own hedge, the contract maturing in 07 months and short position by BEKK-GARCH approach was the most effective for mango (H = -0.725; HE = 35.8%); in 06 months and long position, the U-MEG approach (n = 300), was the most effective for melon (H = 0.557; HE = 17.9%); and 06 months and short position for the U-MEG approach (n = 300), was the most effective for grape (H = -0.272; HE = 34.8%). Considering the crosshedge, the contract maturing in 11 months and long position, by BEKK-GARCH approach was the most effective for mango (H = 0.018; HE = 22%); the contract maturing in 12 months and short position, the approach of the Minimum Variance was the most effective for melon (H = -0.003; HE = 8.7%); and the contract maturing in 11 months and short position by BEKK-GARCH approach was the most effective for grape (H = -0.022; HE = 22.1%). It is worth mentioning the difficulty of cross-hedge to be made to the melon, given the tiny H values to be realized in practical terms, which demands the realization of further investigations to improve this particular result.

<p>This study investigates cattle futures response to the equities crash in March of 2020 and the subsequent COVID-19 linked production delays at beef packing plants. I observe that the initial declines in cattle futures began prior to the onset of beef packing plant shutdowns. Fitting a Vector Error Correction Model on live cattle futures, feeder cattle futures, and corn futures to the E-Mini S&P 500 futures contract finds evidencethat the S&P 500 had a significant impact on cattle prices during  March  of  2020.  These  results  are  an  example  of  increased  cross-asset  correlation  during periods of financial distress.</p>

The first essay, "Market Integration and Side by Side Trading of Derivative and Cash Instruments" inquires into the microstructure of integrated trading of derivative and cash instruments and proposes a spatial differentiation model as a framework for analysis. The model illustrates that when broker-dealers can execute cash and derivative transactions proximately they can increase their returns by serving a larger proportion of investors who hold diverse portfolios thereby helping investors to economize on transactions costs. The model predicts that transactions involving a cash and derivative will be effected through an integrated system. The second essay, "Stock Index Futures Trading and Stock Market Volatility," reviews theoretical models and empirical evidence on the relationships between the level of futures trading and volatility. An empirical investigation is conducted by examining the relationship between the daily trading value of the S&P 500 stock index futures contract and the traded value of New York Stock Exchange stocks and considers whether there is higher price volatility in the stock markets when the level of trading in the futures markets is high relative to trading in the cash market. No evidence, theoretical or empirical, is found to support the notion that futures trading leads to greater volatility in the underlying cash market. The third essay, "Liquidation and Delivery Under Conditions of Manipulation models how strategic traders would respond to manipulation given an option to liquidate or deliver on the contract. A perfect Bayesian equilibrium concept is used in which traders must decide whether to liquidate or deliver given the realization of the first period equilibrium futures price. If detected by floor brokers who competitively bid prices to their expected value, the manipulator will cause prices to move against him, raising the equilibrium price when he puts in orders to buy and lowering the price when he seeks to selL Revelation of manipulation through prices also alters the behavior of other traders. An analysis of reactions in a simplified extensive form game indicates that detection of manipulation allows other market participants to stategically adjust their plans regarding liquidation and avoid incurring losses to the manipulator. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A unique data set consisting of economists' expectations on key economic indicators was examined within the context of the controversial normal backwardation theory of Keynes. The economists' expectations were regarded as the expected future spot price and the relationship between them and the corresponding futures contracts was analysed. The respective economic indicators were: i) the yield from aparastatal Bond, ii) the yield from Government Bonds, iii) the rate of the 90 day Banker's Acceptance (BA) Deposit Rate and iv) the Rand/Dollar (R/$) Exchange Rate for the past seven years, i.e. 1995 to 2001. The accuracy of the economists' predictions was tested both on a visual basis and the relationship between the expected values and the futures prices was plotted in a graphical format. A nonparametric statistical procedure was used to determine whether the economists' expectations were of any value. To put it differently, the question being posed is: do these economists, as a group, possess some superior forecasting skills? Two different conclusions were reached from the analysis: First conclusion: by accepting the normal backwardation theory, it implies that the contango theory also holds. Therefore, when analysing the data set visually - depending on which theory it supports - the futures price must trade consistently below or above the expected future spot price. For this particular analysis the yield of the bond, and not its price, was the important factor. In most cases the plotted relationships between the expected values and the futures prices were found to support the contango theory and, to a lesser extent, the normal backwardation theory. Hence, speculators were, in order to make profits, predominately sellers of futures contracts. Second conclusion: the strongest conclusion, however, follows from the statistical tests conducted on the expected values. It was found that economists do possess some superior forecasting skills and if they had used their predictions and had taken the corresponding market positions, they would have been consistent winners in the futures market. Their reward would be mainly for their ability to forecast eventual spot prices and, to a lesser extent, for their risk bearing. It was impossible to link the two conclusions to confirm the normal backwardation theory, for the particular South African data set. The evidence is thus consistent with the hypothesis that the futures price is an unbiased estimate of the expected future spot price. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Unieke datastel, bestaande uit ekonome se vooruitsigte van kern ekonomiese aanwysers, is ondersoek binne die konteks van die omstrede normale terugwaardasie-teorie (d.i. "normal backwardation theory") van Keynes. Die ekonome se vooruitsigte is aanvaar as die verwagte toekomstige kontantprys en die verhouding hiertussen en die ooreenstemmende termynpryse is ontleed. Die onderskeie ekonomiese aanwysers was: i) die opbrengs op 'n Semi-Staatseffek, ii) die opbrengs op Staatseffekte, iii) die koers van die negentig-dae-Bankaksepte (BA) Depositokoers en iv) die Rand/Dollar (R/$) Wisselkoers oor die afgelope sewe jaar, d.w.s. 1995 tot 2001. Die akkuraatheid van die ekonome se vooruitskattings is op 'n visuele basis vergelyk, en die verhouding tussen die verwagte prys en die termynpryse is in grafiese formaat gekarteer. 'n Nie-parametriese statistiese prosedure is gebruik om vas te stel of hierdie ekonome se vooruitsigte van enige waarde was. Anders gestel, die vraag is: beskik hierdie ekonome as 'n groep oor sekere superieure vooruitskattingsvaardighede? Die volgende twee afsonderlike gevolgtrekkings is geformuleer: Eerste gevolgtrekking: deur die normale terugwaardasie-teorie te aanvaar, impliseer dit dat die contango-teorie (d.i, "contango theory") ook geldig is. Dus, wanneer die datastel visueel getoets word - afhangende van watter teorie dit ondersteun - moet die termynprys konsekwent bo of onder die verwagte toekomstige kontantprys verhandel. Vir hierdie bepaalde analise was die opbrengs van die staatseffek die belangrike faktor en nié die prys daarvan nie. In die meeste gevalle het die gekarteerde verhouding tussen die verwagte prys en die termynprys getoon dat dit die contango-teorie ondersteun het en, in 'n mindere mate, die normale terugwaardasie-teorie. Derhalwe was spekulante, ten einde wins te maak, oorwegend die verkopers van termynkontrakte. Tweede gevolgtrekking: die belangrikste gevolgtrekking volg egter uit die statistiese toetse wat uitgevoer is op die verwagte pryse. Daar is bevind dat ekonome wel oor superieure vooruitskattingsvaardighede beskik en dat, indien hulle hul vooruitskattings gebruik en die ooreenstemmende markposisies ingeneem het, hulle konsekwent wenners in die termynmark sou gewees het. Hulle vergoedings sou hoofsaaklik gewees het vir hulle vermoë om uiteindelike kontantpryse te voorspel en, in 'n mindere mate, vir hulle risiko-blootstelling. Dit was onmoontlik om hierdie twee vergelykings met mekaar te verbind om sodoende die normale terugwaardasie-teorie te onderskryf vir die betrokke Suid-Afrikaanse datastel. Die bewyslewering is dus konsekwent met die hipotese dat die termynprys 'n onsydige skatting van die verwagte toekomstige kontantprys is.

O objetivo desta tese foi avaliar algumas abordagens para utilizar os mercados futuros e de opções no Brasil e no exterior como ferramentas para gestão estratégica da produção de soja em Mato Grosso. Apresentam-se duas linhas de trabalho na pesquisa. Na primeira, a estrutura a termo das opções com vencimento futuro negociadas no CME Group foi obtida para efetuar previsões da volatilidade e do nível de preços realizados, no curto e longo prazo, para os preços a vista da soja negociada em Rondonópolis (MT). Através da extração da volatilidade implícita do modelo de Black (1976) para precificação de opções de commodities, decompôs-se a variância da volatilidade em intervalos conhecidos e não conhecidos, para os quais se fez previsões de curto e longo prazo. Usou-se também a volatilidade implícita como parâmetro numa equação de intervalos de confiança empíricos para a estimação do nível de preços, no curto e longo prazo. Os testes de eficiência preditiva indicaram que as previsões da volatilidade realizada com base na volatilidade implícita têm maior grau de eficiência no curto prazo, enquanto as previsões dos níveis de preço são mais eficientes no longo prazo. Pode-se atribuir os resultados às características intrínsecas da série de preços da soja, em particular a tendência de reversão à média e o agrupamento de volatilidades. Na segunda abordagem, a decisão de hedge simultâneo dos produtores de soja de Mato Grosso com contratos futuros de preço e taxa de câmbio da BOVESPA-BM&F foi analisada. Um modelo de hedge simultâneo do risco de preços e taxa de câmbio foi obtido e as eficiências de diferentes estratégias de hedge foram calculadas. As principais conclusões foram que o hedge simultâneo de risco de preços e taxa de câmbio reduz mais o risco da receita total do que apenas o hedge de preços. A mitigação do risco de taxa de câmbio em conjunto com o de preços é fundamental para uma gestão estratégica dos exportadores de commodities. / This dissertation objective was the evaluation of some approaches to use the Brazilian and foreign futures and options markets as a strategic management mechanism for the soybean production in Mato Grosso. Two research topics are presented. In the first, the term structure of options with future maturities traded at the CME Group was obtained to make realized volatility and price level short and long term forecasts of the soybeans spot prices traded in Rondonopolis (MT). By extracting the implied volatility using the Black (1976) model for commodities option pricing, the volatility variance is decomposed in known and unknown intervals, for which predictions of short and long term values were made. Also the implied volatility was used as a parameter in an equation of the empirical confidence intervals for the estimation of the price level in the short and long term. Predictive efficiency tests indicated that the forecasts of realized volatility based on implied volatility show a greater degree of efficiency in the short term, while estimates of price levels are more efficient in the long term. These results can be assigned to the intrinsic characteristics of the soybean price series, in particular its tendency for mean reversion and volatility clustering. In the second essay, the joint hedging decision of the soybean producers of Mato Grosso with price and exchange rate futures contracts of BOVESPA-BM&F was analyzed. A simultaneous price and exchange risk hedging model was obtained and the efficiencies of different hedging strategies was calculated. The main findings were that the simultaneous hedging of price and exchange rate risk reduce more revenue risk than hedging with price futures only. The exchange risk jointly with price risk offset is key for a strategic management of commodities exporters.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-03T18:35:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Wilson_Motta_Miceli.pdf: 1094265 bytes, checksum: 5165e68d2ea0db5cb92a1fcd0d0a6665 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-08-28 / The present scenario of interest rate reduction has been object of discussion in the financial market, specially in asset management offices, that aim yield alternatives and portfolio risk mitigation. The comprehension of the reasons of the reduced use of derivatives by hedge funds required an exploratory analysis in asset management offices. The exploratory research, along with the fund managers was done through a list of questions sent by e-mail to hedge funds directors and managers. The behavior of the agricultural derivatives price at BM&F was also used to calculate the risk and return of a portfolio formed by six agricultural futures contracts. In the period studied, the analysis showed that these instruments can reduce portfolio risk and bring a higher return than the interest rate used in the market. The descriptive analysis and non-parametric techniques done by the Cluster analysis along with the Mann-Whitney test and the Crammer correlation showed that there are some operational and structural obstacles related to derivatives instruments witch can explain the low use of agricultural derivatives in hedge funds. / O cen??rio atual de redu????o da taxa de juros tem sido objeto de discuss??o nos meios financeiros, em especial, na gest??o de recursos, que busca alternativas de rentabilidade e mitiga????o no risco de carteira. Este estudo referiu-se a uma an??lise explorat??ria, junto aos Assets Managements, para investigar as raz??es que determinam o reduzido uso destes instrumentos derivativos pelos fundos de investimentos multimercados. Para tanto procurou-se analisar o comportamento dos pre??os dos derivativos agropecu??rios negociados na BM&F, calculando-se o risco da carteira, formada por seis contratos futuros agropecu??rios, e o seu retorno. Esta an??lise demonstrou, no per??odo avaliado, que estes instrumentos podem reduzir o risco da carteira e promoveram um retorno pouco acima da taxa de juros de mercado. A pesquisa explorat??ria, junto aos gestores dos fundos de investimentos foi realizada atrav??s de question??rios enviados por e-mail aos diretores e gestores dos fundos multimercados. A an??lise descritiva conjugada com t??cnicas n??o-param??tricas, atrav??s da an??lise de cluster acoplada com os testes de Mann-Whitney e a correla????o de Cram??r demonstraram que existem alguns obst??culos de car??ter operacional e estrutural, referentes aos instrumentos derivativos, que explicam o baixo uso dos derivativos agropecu??rios nas carteiras dos fundos multimercados.

O problema estudado nesta tese foi a formação de preços de commodities agrícolas relacionadas com a produção de bioenergia. A possibilidade de substiuição de combustíveis fósseis, derivados do petróleo, por alternativas renováveis, como o etanol proveniente da cana-de-açúcar, inseriu um novo contexto no mercado de commodities. O objetivo principal desta tese foi propor um modelo de formação de preços que levasse em consideração o conceito de commodities agrícolas como componentes da matriz energética e aplicá-lo ao mercado brasileiro de açúcar e álcool. Para a especificação do modelo, foram elaboradas premissas que têm base na interdependência de preços com o petróleo, na Teoria de Estocagem, na sazonalidade das safras e na volatilidade do mercado. A volatilidade foi considerada no estudo porque, em períodos de turbulência econômica, os investidores buscam o mercado de commodities para proteger o valor real do capital. Para elaborar e testar o modelo, a pesquisa foi dividida em quatro partes interrelacionadas. A primeira consistiu na análise de outros modelos da literatura e dos processos estocásticos descritos pelas variáveis que compõem os preços das commodities. A segunda parte consistiu na elaboração das premissas, dispostas na forma de hipóteses, que foram testadas com dados do mercado futuro de açúcar e álcool da BM&FBOVESPA e com preços do mercado agrícola divulgados pelo CEPEA. A amostra analisada compreendeu o período de 2 de janeiro de 2002 a 30 de junho de 2008. Nesta etapa foram utilizados, entre outros métodos, testes estatísticos de significância de coeficientes de regressões multivaridadas pelo Método dos Mínimos Quadrados. Os resultados dos testes indicaram que o açúcar Granger causa os preços do etanol, confirmaram a presença de backwardation forte nas séries de preços, confirmaram também que os preços do petróleo antecipam informações sobre a tendência dos preços do açúcar, com defasagem de um mês. Além desses resultados, confirmou-se a presença de sazonalidade e, verificou-se, de forma não conclusiva, uma relação positiva entre a volatilidade dos mercados e os preços do açúcar. Na terceira parte da pesquisa, o modelo foi especificado em um sistema de três equações na forma de espaço de estado, cujos parâmetros foram estimados por meio do filtro de Kalman. Na quarta e última parte da pesquisa, foram viii geradas séries de previsão n passos à frente utilizando os parâmetros estimados e os resultados confrontados com os preços observados do açúcar no mercado à vista. Medidas de erros de previsão foram calculadas e comparadas com as de um outro modelo na literatura, adequado ao mercado de brasileiro açúcar o modelo de dois fatores. Verificou-se que o modelo proposto é estatisticamente superior, em termos de previsão, ao modelo de dois fatores, no nível de 1% de significância. Verificou-se também que, quanto maior o horizonte de previsão, maior é o ganho de informação relativo do modelo proposto. A redução percentual de erros foi superior a 10%, quando analisada a previsão de três meses à frente. Portanto, foi possível concluir que o modelo, que incorpora a interdependência do petróleo na formação de preços de commodities relacionadas à produção de biocombustíveis, é melhor, em termos de previsão, do que um outro modelo sugerido na literatura que não leva essa premissa em consideração, quando aplicado ao mercado brasileiro de açúcar. Os resultados da pesquisa podem ter aplicação pragmática em Administração de Empresas do setor sucroalcooleiro e na formação de preços no mercado de derivativos de commodities agrícolas. / The problem addressed by this thesis is the formation of prices of agricultural commodities related to bioenergy production. The possibility of substituting renewable alternatives, such as ethanol derived from sugar cane, for fossil fuels derived from petroleum has brought a new dimension to commodity markets. The primary objective of this thesis is to propose a pricing model which takes into account the concept of agricultural commodities as components of the energy matrix and to apply it to the Brazilian sugar and ethanol markets. The bases of the premises used to build this model were oil-price interdependence, inventory theory, harvest seasonality, and market volatility. Volatility was considered in the study because, in times of economic turbulence, investors turn to the commodities market to protect the real value of their capital. Four interrelated research tasks were undertaken to develop and test the model. The first step consisted of a literature analysis of other models and the stochastic processes to which variables that influence commodity prices are subject. The second part consisted of the elaboration of presumptions in the form of hypotheses which were tested using data from the BM&FBOVEPSA sugar and ethanol futures markets and agricultural prices published by CEPEA, with the test period being from January 2, 2002, to June 30, 2008. This step employed, among other methods, tests of stastical significance with multivariate regressions using the method of least squares. The test results indicated that sugar Granger causes ethanol prices, that strong backwardation exists in the price series, and that petroleum prices are predictive of sugar price patterns, with a one-month lag. In addition, the results confirmed the influence of seasonality and pointed, albeit somewhat inconclusively, to a positive relationship between market volatility and sugar prices. In the third step of the study, a model was defined using a system of three equations in state space form with parameters estimated using Kalman filtering. The fourth and last stage of the research generated series projections n steps forward using the estimated parameters, and the results were compared to sugar prices observed in the market. Measures of predictive error were calculated and compared with those of another model cited in literature as applicable to the Brazilian sugar market the two-factor model. The proposed model proved itself to be statistically superior, in terms of predictiveness, to the two-factor model, at the level of 1% significance. Moreover, x its predictive superiority rose as the period of time analyzed increased. The error reduction in percentage terms was greater than 10% over a forward-looking period of three months. Therefore, it is possible to conclude, in the context of the Brazilian sugar market, that this model, which incorporates petroleum interdependence in the formation of prices of commodities related to biofuel production, is better, in terms of predictive power, than another model cited in literature that does not take this premise into consideration. The results of this research can be applied in the management of sugar-alcohol companies and in the formation of derivatives prices in the agricultural commodities market.