Are Pound and Euro the Same Currency?

Raul Matsushita, University of Brasilia
Annibal Figueiredo, University of Brasilia
Iram Gleria, Federal University of Alagoas
Sergio Da Silva, Federal University of Santa Catarina

Abstract

Based on long range dependence, some analysts claim that the exchange rate time series of the pound sterling and of an artificially extended euro have been locked together for years despite daily changes. They conclude that pound and euro are in practice the same currency. We assess the long range dependence over time through Hurst exponents of pound-dollar and extended euro-dollar exchange rates employing three alternative techniques, namely rescaled range analysis, detrended fluctuation analysis, and detrended moving average. We find the result above (which is based on detrended fluctuation analysis) not to be robust to the changing techniques and parameterizing.