medium · Quantitative Finance microstructure-arb

In a pairs trade, if the spread S = ln(P_A) - β ln(P_B) is used instead of the raw price difference, what is the primary advantage?

  1. It eliminates the need to run a Dickey-Fuller stationarity test on the raw price spread beforehand.
  2. The spread is interpreted in terms of percentage returns, which is more stable across different price levels.
  3. Logarithms will mathematically transform any non-stationary series into a fully stationary one on their own.
  4. The hedge ratio beta will always equal exactly 1.0 for any pair once both prices are converted to logarithms first.

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