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A fear index to predict oil futures returns / Julien Chevallier &#38; Benoît Sévi. FEEM, 2013, 26 p. (Nota di lavoro n° 2013.062)http://www.feem.it/userfiles/attach/2013791551404NDL2013-062.pdfAuthors's abstract :This paper evaluates the predictability of WTI light sweet crude oil futures by using the variance risk premium, i.e. the difference between model-free measures of implied and realized volatilities. Additional regressors known for their ability to explain crude oil futures prices are also considered, capturing macroeconomic, financial and oil-specific influences. The results indicate that the explanatory power of the (negative) variance risk premium on oil excess returns is particularly strong (up to 25% for the adjusted Rsquared across our regressions). It complements other financial (e.g. default spread) and oil-specific (e.g. US oil stocks) factors highlighted in previous literature.