Exchange rates, expected returns and risk: UIP unbound

No-arbitrage implies a close link between exchange rates and interest returns, but evidence of that link has been elusive. This paper derives an exchange rate asset price model with consumption-risk adjustments. Interest rates and exchange rates reflect common risks which bias their reduced-form relationship. As markets become more complete, the model predicts increasing disconnect between exchange rates and observed interest rates, and between premia that price bonds and premia that price currency returns. When accounting for risk, the estimated interest rate - exchange rate relationship is considerably closer to theory for eight USD currency pairs. Exchange rates, risk and returns need to be jointly modeled.