IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/eneeco/v117y2023ics0140988322005539.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Trade policy uncertainty and financial investment: Evidence from Chinese energy firms

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Mengzhe
  • Lin, Qianru
  • Lan, Fei
  • Zhan, Zhimin
  • He, Zhongshi

Abstract

This study investigates whether trade policy uncertainty impacts energy firms' financial investments. We find that trade policy uncertainty is negatively related to energy firm's financial investment, thus suggesting that energy firms prefer to reduce financial investment during periods of higher trade policy uncertainty. After adopting several robustness tests, our results remain robust. The negative correlation between trade policy uncertainty and financial investment is more significant in energy firms with less sales revenues, and lower sales growth rates. Meanwhile, energy firms with less serious competition and in areas with higher marketization are more likely to reduce financial investment when trade policy uncertainty increases. Further evidence shows that energy firms are more likely to hold more cash and increase research and development activities when trade policy uncertainty increases.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Mengzhe & Lin, Qianru & Lan, Fei & Zhan, Zhimin & He, Zhongshi, 2023. "Trade policy uncertainty and financial investment: Evidence from Chinese energy firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:117:y:2023:i:c:s0140988322005539
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2022.106424
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140988322005539
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.eneco.2022.106424?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Huang, Yun & Luk, Paul, 2020. "Measuring economic policy uncertainty in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    2. Caldara, Dario & Iacoviello, Matteo & Molligo, Patrick & Prestipino, Andrea & Raffo, Andrea, 2020. "The economic effects of trade policy uncertainty," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 38-59.
    3. Jiang, Pengcheng & Jiang, Hongli & Wu, Jiahui, 2022. "Is inhibition of financialization the sub-effect of the green credit policy? Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    4. Ozgür Orhangazi, 2008. "Financialisation and capital accumulation in the non-financial corporate sector:," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 32(6), pages 863-886, November.
    5. Demir, FIrat, 2009. "Financial liberalization, private investment and portfolio choice: Financialization of real sectors in emerging markets," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 314-324, March.
    6. Kyle Handley & Nuno Limão, 2018. "Policy Uncertainty, Trade, and Welfare: Theory and Evidence for China and the United States," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Policy Externalities and International Trade Agreements, chapter 5, pages 123-175, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    7. Narayan, Paresh Kumar & Nasiri, Maryam Akbari, 2020. "Understanding corporate debt from the oil market perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    8. Hou, Fei & Tang, Wenjie & Wang, Huabing & Xiong, Hao, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty, marketization level and firm-level inefficient investment: Evidence from Chinese listed firms in energy and power industries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    9. Song, Kyojik (Roy) & Lee, Youngjoo, 2012. "Long-Term Effects of a Financial Crisis: Evidence from Cash Holdings of East Asian Firms," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(3), pages 617-641, June.
    10. Chen Liu, 2021. "COVID-19 and the Energy Stock Market - Evidence From China," Energy RESEARCH LETTERS, Asia-Pacific Applied Economics Association, vol. 2(3), pages 1-5.
    11. Kyle Handley & Nuno Limão, 2018. "Trade and Investment under Policy Uncertainty: Theory and Firm Evidence," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Policy Externalities and International Trade Agreements, chapter 4, pages 89-122, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    12. Opler, Tim & Pinkowitz, Lee & Stulz, Rene & Williamson, Rohan, 1999. "The determinants and implications of corporate cash holdings," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 3-46, April.
    13. Feng, Ling & Li, Zhiyuan & Swenson, Deborah L., 2017. "Trade policy uncertainty and exports: Evidence from China's WTO accession," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 20-36.
    14. Handley, Kyle, 2014. "Exporting under trade policy uncertainty: Theory and evidence," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 50-66.
    15. Mengting Jiang & Dongmin Kong, 2021. "The Impact of International Crude Oil Prices on Energy Stock Prices - Evidence From China," Energy RESEARCH LETTERS, Asia-Pacific Applied Economics Association, vol. 2(4), pages 1-4.
    16. Li, Xiao-Lin & Li, Jingya & Wang, Jia & Si, Deng-Kui, 2021. "Trade policy uncertainty, political connection and government subsidy: Evidence from Chinese energy firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    17. Narayan, Paresh Kumar, 2019. "Can stale oil price news predict stock returns?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 430-444.
    18. Impullitti, Giammario & Akcigit, Ufuk & Ates, Sina T., 2018. "Innovation and Trade Policy in a Globalized World," CEPR Discussion Papers 15804, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    19. Imad A. Moosa, 2018. "Does financialization retard growth? Time series and cross-sectional evidence," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(31), pages 3405-3415, July.
    20. Michele Imbruno, 2019. "Importing under trade policy uncertainty: Evidence from China," Post-Print hal-02171715, HAL.
    21. Ke, Bin & Wang, Lanfang, 2021. "Mixed ownership and firm performance: Evidence from the Chinese venture capital industry," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    22. repec:cup:jfinqa:v:46:y:2011:i:06:p:1727-1754_00 is not listed on IDEAS
    23. Zhen Yu & Jinpo Li & Ge Yang, 2021. "A Review of Energy Security Index Dimensions and Organization," Energy RESEARCH LETTERS, Asia-Pacific Applied Economics Association, vol. 3(Early Vie), pages 1-5.
    24. Bollen, Nicolas P. B., 2013. "Zero-R2Hedge Funds and Market Neutrality," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 48(2), pages 519-547, April.
    25. Justin R. Pierce & Peter K. Schott, 2016. "The Surprisingly Swift Decline of US Manufacturing Employment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(7), pages 1632-1662, July.
    26. Chernenko, Sergey & Faulkender, Michael, 2011. "The Two Sides of Derivatives Usage: Hedging and Speculating with Interest Rate Swaps," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 46(6), pages 1727-1754, December.
    27. Liu, Qing & Ma, Hong, 2020. "Trade policy uncertainty and innovation: Firm level evidence from China’s WTO accession," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    28. Hughes, Larry, 2012. "A generic framework for the description and analysis of energy security in an energy system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 221-231.
    29. Lu, Weiwei & Su, Meirong & Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Chen, Bin & Liu, Gengyuan, 2014. "Assessment of energy security in China based on ecological network analysis: A perspective from the security of crude oil supply," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 406-413.
    30. Iyke, Bernard Njindan & Tran, Vuong Thao & Narayan, Paresh Kumar, 2021. "Can energy security predict energy stock returns?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    31. Imbruno, Michele, 2019. "Importing under trade policy uncertainty: Evidence from China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 806-826.
    32. Shen, Huayu & Hou, Fei, 2021. "Trade policy uncertainty and corporate innovation evidence from Chinese listed firms in new energy vehicle industry," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    33. Yongqiang Gao & Taïeb Hafsi, 2015. "Government Intervention, Peers’ Giving and Corporate Philanthropy: Evidence from Chinese Private SMEs," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 433-447, December.
    34. Yang, Zhihao & Hong, Junjie, 2021. "Trade policy uncertainty and energy intensity: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    35. Bannigidadmath, Deepa & Narayan, Paresh Kumar, 2022. "Economic importance of correlations for energy and other commodities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    36. Engelbert Stockhammer & Lucas Grafl, 2010. "Financial Uncertainty and Business Investment," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(4), pages 551-568.
    37. Jain, Bharat A. & Li, Joanne & Shao, Yingying, 2013. "Governance, product market competition and cash management in IPO firms," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 2052-2068.
    38. Bartram, Söhnke M., 2019. "Corporate hedging and speculation with derivatives," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 9-34.
    39. Ronald W. Masulis & Cong Wang & Fei Xie, 2007. "Corporate Governance and Acquirer Returns," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 62(4), pages 1851-1889, August.
    40. Duchin, Ran & Ozbas, Oguzhan & Sensoy, Berk A., 2010. "Costly external finance, corporate investment, and the subprime mortgage credit crisis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(3), pages 418-435, September.
    41. Giroud, Xavier & Mueller, Holger M., 2010. "Does corporate governance matter in competitive industries?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(3), pages 312-331, March.
    42. Sasatra Sudsawasd & Robert E. Moore, 2006. "Investment under Trade Policy Uncertainty: an Empirical Investigation," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(2), pages 316-329, May.
    43. Isaac Appiah-Otoo, 2021. "Impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Renewable Energy Growth," Energy RESEARCH LETTERS, Asia-Pacific Applied Economics Association, vol. 2(1), pages 1-5.
    44. Ahsan Habib & Mostafa Monzur Hasan, 2017. "Firm life cycle, corporate risk-taking and investor sentiment," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(2), pages 465-497, June.
    45. Wang, Hua & Wang, Wei & Alhaleh, Shadi Emad Areef, 2021. "Mixed ownership and financial investment: Evidence from Chinese state-owned enterprises," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 159-171.
    46. Jefferson Duarte & Francis A. Longstaff & Fan Yu, 2007. "Risk and Return in Fixed-Income Arbitrage: Nickels in Front of a Steamroller?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 20(3), pages 769-811.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jingxian Liu & Yingyu Wu & Lili Liu, 2023. "Impact of Environmental Uncertainties and Strategic Flexibility in Innovation Activities on NEV Battery Recycling Firms in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Sheikh, Umaid A. & Asadi, Mehrad & Roubaud, David & Hammoudeh, Shawkat, 2024. "Global uncertainties and Australian financial markets: Quantile time-frequency connectedness," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    3. Sultan Sikandar Mirza & Chengming Huang & Adnan Khan, 2024. "Managing CEO duality and economic uncertainty: strategies for aligning corporate sustainability and innovation in China’s energy market," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 12815-12841, May.
    4. Xie, Qichang & Fang, Tingwei & Rong, Xueyun & Xu, Xin, 2024. "Nonlinear behavior of tail risk resonance and early warning: Insight from global energy stock markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yiping Sun & Xiangyi Li & Tengyuan Zhang & Jiawei Fu, 2022. "Does Trade Policy Uncertainty Exacerbate Environmental Pollution?—Evidence from Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Yang, Zhihao & Hong, Junjie, 2021. "Trade policy uncertainty and energy intensity: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    3. Zhou, Fengxiu & Wen, Huwei, 2022. "Trade policy uncertainty, development strategy, and export behavior: Evidence from listed industrial companies in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    4. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2022. "Duration of WTO Membership and Investment-Oriented Remittances Flows," EconStor Preprints 251274, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    5. Yin, Doudou & Si, Deng-Kui & Wang, Yun, 2024. "How does corporate investment respond to trade policy uncertainty in China? The role of political connections," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1429-1445.
    6. Song, Kaiyi & Dai, Wei & Bian, Yuanchao, 2023. "Trade policy uncertainty and environmental performance of Chinese enterprises," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 73-85.
    7. Yiping Sun & Chengjun Wu & Xiaoming Zhu & Pingguan Bian, 2022. "China’s Accession to the WTO as a Shock to Residents’ Health—A Difference-in-Difference Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    8. Si, Deng-Kui & Zhuang, Jiali & Ge, Xinyu & Yu, Yong, 2024. "The nexus between trade policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    9. Xi, Yanle & Zhang, Liang & Zhou, Yuxin & Wu, Lamei, 2024. "Trade policy uncertainty and firm-level pollution emissions: Evidence from China's accession to the WTO," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    10. Haoyuan Ding & Bo Pu & Tong Qi & Kai Wang, 2022. "Valuation effects of the US–China trade war: The effects of foreign managers and foreign exposure," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 662-683, July.
    11. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2023. "Duration of membership in the world trade organization and investment-oriented remittances inflows," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 258-277.
    12. Li, Xiao-Lin & Li, Jingya & Wang, Jia & Si, Deng-Kui, 2021. "Trade policy uncertainty, political connection and government subsidy: Evidence from Chinese energy firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    13. Jie Ma & Rong Cai & Weifu Zhang, 2023. "Has the Decline in Trade Policy Uncertainty Promoted China’s Agricultural Exports?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-14, July.
    14. Li, Xiaogang, 2020. "Innovation, market valuations, policy uncertainty and trade: Theory and evidence," ISU General Staff Papers 202001010800009179, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    15. Cui, Chuantao & Li, Leona Shao-Zhi, 2023. "Trade policy uncertainty and new firm entry: Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    16. Lingshan Chen & Yunong Li & Qian Xie & Mao Zhou, 2024. "Import Policy Uncertainty and Innovation," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 32(1), pages 197-230, January.
    17. Suyi Zheng & Jiandong Wen, 2023. "How Does Firm-Level Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect Corporate Innovation? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, April.
    18. Hu, Debao & Lu, Jingming & Zhao, Sibo, 2024. "Does trade policy uncertainty increase commercial banks’ risk-taking? Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 532-551.
    19. Benguria, Felipe & Choi, Jaerim & Swenson, Deborah L. & Xu, Mingzhi (Jimmy), 2022. "Anxiety or pain? The impact of tariffs and uncertainty on Chinese firms in the trade war," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    20. Rodrigue, Joel & Shi, Qing & Tan, Yong, 2024. "Trade policy uncertainty & resource misallocation," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:117:y:2023:i:c:s0140988322005539. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/eneco .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.