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The role of country and industry factors during volatile times

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  • Marcelo, José Luis Miralles
  • Quirós, José Luis Miralles
  • Martins, José Luís

Abstract

Global stock market investment has highlighted the debate about whether country effects are typically more relevant than sector/industry effects in international stock returns. This paper studies the roles of country and industry effect on several major European financial markets. We find clear evidence that diversification over industries yields fundamental relevance for obtaining more efficient portfolios, and that ignoring the industrial mix leads to an important loss of diversification benefits. In addition we examine the behavior of country and industry effects during high (low) volatility periods. Alluring investors to diversify across industries requires a country to industry effect ratio to be substantially lower during high than low volatility periods. The fact that countries tend to move together during volatile periods posits that industry diversification may provide relatively more protection in crisis. For the entire time span we find that industries provide better protection in times of high volatility relative to countries. However, countries do perform better in absolute terms. Finally, we conclude that investors seeking global representation in their investment portfolios should continue to consider diversifying broadly across both countries and industries. Our findings have important implications for international portfolio diversification.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcelo, José Luis Miralles & Quirós, José Luis Miralles & Martins, José Luís, 2013. "The role of country and industry factors during volatile times," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 273-290.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:26:y:2013:i:c:p:273-290
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2013.06.005
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    2. Vicente J. Bermejo & José M. Campa & Rodolfo G. Campos & Mohammed Zakriya, 2020. "Do foreign stocks substitute for international diversification?," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 26(5), pages 1191-1223, November.
    3. Conlon, Thomas & Cotter, John & Ropotos, Ioannis, 2024. "Diversification with globally integrated US stocks," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    4. Bai, Ye & Green, Christopher J., 2020. "Country and industry factors in tests of Capital Asset Pricing Models for partially integrated emerging markets," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 180-194.
    5. Ahmed Salhin & Mo Sherif & Edward Jones, 2016. "Investor Sentiment and Sector Returns," CFI Discussion Papers 1602, Centre for Finance and Investment, Heriot Watt University.
    6. Bessler, Wolfgang & Taushanov, Georgi & Wolff, Dominik, 2021. "Optimal asset allocation strategies for international equity portfolios: A comparison of country versus industry optimization," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    7. O'Hagan-Luff, Martha & Berrill, Jenny, 2015. "Why stay-at-home investing makes sense," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-14.
    8. Salhin, Ahmed & Sherif, Mohamed & Jones, Edward, 2016. "Managerial sentiment, consumer confidence and sector returns," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 24-38.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Portfolio diversification; Industry factors; Country factors;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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