On the price-volume relationship in crude oil futures markets

This paper applies a quantile regression model to examine the relationship between the contract prices and trading volumes of light sweet crude oil contracts on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and Brent crude oil contracts on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The results show a tandem rise in prices and volumes for light sweet crude oil contracts but a deviation between prices and volumes for Brent crude oil contracts. These two crude oil contracts exhibit significantly different relationships between prices and volumes when prices fluctuate. This finding can help analysts and investors in their investment decisions.