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Economic policy uncertainty and stock market returns: New evidence

Author

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  • Xu, Yongan
  • Wang, Jianqiong
  • Chen, Zhonglu
  • Liang, Chao

Abstract

This paper investigates the predictive performance of the Chinese economic policy uncertainty (EPU) index constructed by Davis, Liu, and Sheng (2019) in forecasting the returns of China’s stock market. Using the univariate and bivariate predictive regression model, we confirm that the monthly EPU index can significantly and negatively impact the next month’s stock returns, and has better out-of-sample predictability than the existing EPU index and several macroeconomic variables. By comparing the forecasting effect of the EPU index before and during special events with sharply increased uncertainty, we find that the EPU’s forecasting power decline rapidly when an event of sharply increased uncertainty occurs. Finally, our conclusions are consistent through a batch of robustness tests.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Yongan & Wang, Jianqiong & Chen, Zhonglu & Liang, Chao, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty and stock market returns: New evidence," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:58:y:2021:i:c:s1062940821001418
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2021.101525
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    Keywords

    EPU; Stock return; Forecasting; Chinese stock market; Economic value;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C58 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Financial Econometrics
    • F37 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Finance Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
    • G17 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Financial Forecasting and Simulation

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