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Gold against Asian Stock Markets during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Author

Listed:
  • Imran Yousaf

    (Air University School of Management, Air University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Elie Bouri

    (Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University, Beirut P.O. Box 13-5053, Lebanon)

  • Shoaib Ali

    (Air University School of Management, Air University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Nehme Azoury

    (USEK Business School, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh P.O. Box 446, Lebanon)

Abstract

This study examines the safe-haven and hedging roles of gold against thirteen Asian stock markets during the COVID-19 outbreak. During the COVID-19 sub-period, gold is shown to be a strong hedge (diversifier) for the majority (minority) of Asian stock markets; it exhibits the property of a strong safe-haven in China, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam, and a weak safe-haven in Pakistan and Thailand. The optimal weights of all stock-gold portfolios are lower during the COVID-19 sub-period than the pre COVID-19 sub-period, suggesting that portfolio investors should increase their investment in gold during the COVID-19 sub-period. The hedging effectiveness for most Asian stock markets is higher during the COVID-19 sub-period. Further analyses show that the hedge portfolio returns in many cases are mostly driven by gold implied volatility and inflation expectations in both sub-periods. Our findings have useful implications for market participants holding investments in Asian stocks during stressful periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Imran Yousaf & Elie Bouri & Shoaib Ali & Nehme Azoury, 2021. "Gold against Asian Stock Markets during the COVID-19 Outbreak," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:14:y:2021:i:4:p:186-:d:539304
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Pedro Antonio González & José Luis Gallizo, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on the Stock Market by Industrial Sector in Chile: An Adverse Overreaction," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Sokhombela, Andiswa Luncedo Lwandile & Bonga-Bonga, Lumengo & Manguzvane, Mathias Mandla, 2024. "Assessing the performance of safe haven assets during major crises," MPRA Paper 123066, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Xu, Lei & Kinkyo, Takuji, 2023. "Hedging effectiveness of bitcoin and gold: Evidence from G7 stock markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    6. Mei-jun, Ling & Guang-xi, Cao, 2024. "Dynamics of asymmetric multifractal cross-correlations between cryptocurrencies and global stock markets: Role of gold and portfolio implications," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    7. Ioannis Katsampoxakis & Stylianos Xanthopoulos & Charalampos Basdekis & Apostolos G. Christopoulos, 2024. "Can ESG Stocks Be a Safe Haven during Global Crises? Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War with Time-Frequency Wavelet Analysis," Economies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-20, April.
    8. Arfaoui, Nadia & Yousaf, Imran & Jareño, Francisco, 2023. "Return and volatility connectedness between gold and energy markets: Evidence from the pre- and post-COVID vaccination phases," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 617-634.
    9. Yousaf, Imran, 2021. "Risk transmission from the COVID-19 to metals and energy markets," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    10. Kaczmarek, Tomasz & Będowska-Sójka, Barbara & Grobelny, Przemysław & Perez, Katarzyna, 2022. "False Safe Haven Assets: Evidence From the Target Volatility Strategy Based on Recurrent Neural Network," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    11. José Antonio Núñez-Mora & Roberto Joaquín Santillán-Salgado & Mario Iván Contreras-Valdez, 2022. "COVID Asymmetric Impact on the Risk Premium of Developed and Emerging Countries’ Stock Markets," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-36, April.
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    14. Bossman, Ahmed & Agyei, Samuel Kwaku, 2022. "Interdependence structure of global commodity classes and African equity markets: A vector wavelet coherence analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    15. Cui xiaozhong, & Yen-Ku, Kuo & Maneengam, Apichit & Cong, Phan The & Quynh, Nguyen Ngoc & Ageli, Mohammed Moosa & Wisetsri, Worakamol, 2022. "Covid-19 and oil and gold price volatilities: Evidence from China market," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    16. Musumba Batondo & Josine Uwilingiye, 2022. "Comovement across BRICS and the US Stock Markets: A Multitime Scale Wavelet Analysis," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, April.
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    18. Marco Tronzano, 2022. "Optimal Portfolio Allocation between Global Stock Indexes and Safe Haven Assets: Gold versus the Swiss Franc (1999–2021)," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-24, May.

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