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Do stock markets love misery? Evidence from the COVID-19

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  • Sergi, Bruno S.
  • Harjoto, Maretno Agus
  • Rossi, Fabrizio
  • Lee, Robert

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the change in the Barro Misery Index (BMI) and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths on the stock markets' returns and volatility. Based on a sample of 76 different countries, we find that an increase in BMI adversely affects the stock returns and increases stock volatility. We also find that an increase in BMI coupled with an increase in percentage cases of COVID-19 adversely affect stock returns and increases volatility. We find that the impacts of BMI on stock returns and volatility are driven by real GDP changes, unemployment rate, and long-term interest rate instead of inflation rates, especially for the developed countries. Our findings are consistent with Barro (1999), which indicates that the BMI represents a better measure relative to the original misery index in predicting the economic outcome, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also find that the impacts of BMI components on stock returns and volatility for the developed countries are different from the emerging markets.

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  • Sergi, Bruno S. & Harjoto, Maretno Agus & Rossi, Fabrizio & Lee, Robert, 2021. "Do stock markets love misery? Evidence from the COVID-19," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:42:y:2021:i:c:s1544612321000040
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.101923
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    2. Asil Azimli, 2022. "Policy uncertainty sensitivity, COVID-19 and industry returns in the United States," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 107-117.
    3. Kamal, Javed Bin & Wohar, Mark, 2023. "Heterogenous responses of stock markets to covid related news and sentiments: Evidence from the 1st year of pandemic," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 68-85.
    4. Zhang, Xu & Ding, Zhijing & Hang, Jianqin & He, Qizhi, 2022. "How do stock price indices absorb the COVID-19 pandemic shocks?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    5. Mohd Ziaur Rehman & Shabeer Khan & Ghulam Abbas & Mohammed Alhashim, 2023. "Novel COVID-19 Outbreak and Global Uncertainty in the Top-10 Affected Countries: Evidence from Wavelet Coherence Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, March.
    6. Sakawa, Hideaki & Watanabel, Naoki, 2023. "The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Japanese shipping industry: An event study approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 130-140.
    7. Paresh Kumar Narayan & Syed Aun R. Rizvi & Ali Sakti, 2022. "Did green debt instruments aid diversification during the COVID-19 pandemic?," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    8. Izzeldin, Marwan & Muradoğlu, Yaz Gülnur & Pappas, Vasileios & Petropoulou, Athina & Sivaprasad, Sheeja, 2023. "The impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on global financial markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    9. Bai, Chenjiang & Duan, Yuejiao & Fan, Xiaoyun & Tang, Shuai, 2023. "Financial market sentiment and stock return during the COVID-19 pandemic," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    10. Thomas M. Fullerton & Patricia Arellano-Olague, 2022. "Short-Term Household Economic Stress Effects on Retail Activity in El Paso, Texas," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 50(1), pages 27-35, June.
    11. Cakici, Nusret & Zaremba, Adam, 2023. "Misery on Main Street, victory on Wall Street: Economic discomfort and the cross-section of global stock returns," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Stock return; Trading volume; Volatility; Daily cases and deaths; Barro Misery Index (BMI);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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