Monetary Policy and Stock Market Interaction: International Evidence

Abstract

This article investigates monetary policy and stock market interaction across 41 developed and developing economies using GMM-Panel VAR model. The analysis is undertaken in two sub-periods—before and after the crisis of 2008 to make a comparative assessment of whether the relationship between monetary policy and stock prices altered in the aftermath of the crisis. We verify the existence of different channels of monetary transmission to stock prices. Our results point to the prevalence of discount rate channel of monetary policy in affecting stock prices after the crisis of 2008. Further, our results indicate an important role of excess liquidity in pushing stock prices upward in developed economies in the post-crisis period. In developing economies, term premia channel is the dominant channel of transmission to stock prices. Also, we find evidence of monetary authorities of developed economies responding directly to stock price movements to ensure financial stability in the post-crisis period. Central banks react primarily to inflationary pressures by tightening monetary policy both before and after the crisis in developed and developing economies. JEL Codes: C32, E44, E52, F42