Emerging Markets Reward Risk

Abstract

The relationship between risk and return in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region stock markets is estimated during 2008 international financial crisis; including Jordan, KSA, Morocco, and Turkey. For comparison purpose, stock markets from Europe are also examined; including, FTSE (UK), CAC40 (France), DAX (Germany), and the Swiss market. The empirical findings show evidence that; contrary to European stock markets; MENA region stock markets generally reward risk during 2008 financial crisis. This result is important for international asset managers and investors to consider investing in emergent markets from MENA region.