The Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Stock Market Return: The Case of the MENA Region

Abstract

This paper attempts to investigate the impact of Coronavirus spread on the stock markets of MENA region. Coronavirus has been measured by cumulative total cases, cumulative total deaths, new cases and new deaths, while stock market return is measured by Δ in the stock market index. This has been applied on stock markets of 7 countries (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Tunisia), on daily basis during the period from March 1, 2020, to July 24, 2020. Results indicate that stock market returns in the MENA countries tend to be negatively affected Coronavirus cumulative deaths and Coronavirus new deaths. A robustness check has been conducted for each country during the whole period, showing significant effect of Coronavirus cumulative cases in Jordan and Tunisia and significant effect of Coronavirus cumulative deaths in Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, without any evidence about the effects of Coronavirus new cases and Coronavirus new cases. After splitting the research period into 4 sub-periods (March, April, May, June- July 24), results support the impact of “cumulative Coronavirus cases” on stock market return in Jordan during May and in Morocco during April. Besides, the impact of “cumulative Coronavirus deaths” has been supported in in Morocco during April, and in Tunisia during March and June-July. Moreover, “new Coronavirus cases” seems to have a significant impact in Jordan during May and in Tunisia during March. Also, “new Coronavirus deaths” shows a significant effect in Morocco during May.