# Log Differences vs Percentage returns [closed]

When working with a single TimeSeries of Foreign Exchange price data (EUR/USD : OHLC) on a minute by minute level, is it better to use the % difference of the close vs the lognormal difference of the close?

When scaling up to use a basket of fx pairs, do the differences between the two become more prevalent?

## closed as off-topic by LocalVolatility, Alex C, msitt, amdopt, Attack68♦Aug 1 '18 at 16:57

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So as you are analyzing the temporal behavior, it is recommended to use lognormal differences. You may also look at this detailed answer for the advantages of log returns. Nevertheless, you have to be aware, that the simple return of a portfolio $R_p$ of $N$ asset returns $R_{it}$ with weight $w_i$ is not the weighted average of log-returns, i.e. the convenient weighting calculation $R_p = \sum_{i=1}^N{w_i*R_{it}}$ does not hold.