Global macroeconomic factors and the connectedness among NFTs and (un)conventional assets

Abstract

This paper examines return and volatility connectedness among Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and (un)conventional financial assets across various market conditions using a Quantile-VAR connectedness technique. It also explores the predictive powers of major global macroeconomic and geopolitical indicators on both connectedness across these market conditions. First, we find that return and volatility connectedness vary across market conditions, with higher levels during extreme events. Except during bullish periods, return connectedness dominates volatility connectedness. Second, NFTs are decoupled from both (un)conventional assets during normal market condition but it is a net return shocks receiver except under bullish market period, where it is a net transmitter. However, it is a net volatility shocks receiver irrespective of the market situation. Lastly, geopolitical risks, business condition and economic policy uncertainty are important predictors of return and volatility connectedness, although the strength and direction are heterogeneous. We discuss the policy implications of these findings.