Through the Lens of Recession 2.0: Diversification Dynamics Between the Leading Asian Stock Markets

Abstract

The focus of this article is to analyse the inter-linkages between eight leading stock markets in Asian continent from the period of July 2011 to February 2018. This period holds relevance as this was the time when Recession 2.0 set in, which adversely affected the developed economies; however, the developing economies withstood the crisis without much of an impact. Co-integration and Granger causality tests were conducted to probe the inter-linkages. Study revealed a positive impact on Asian stock market indices collectively on each of the indexes. The highest number of unidirectional causalities was to KOPSI and NIFTY from rest of the stock indices. Results confirmed that no co-integration relationship existed among the selected indices indicating favourable diversification opportunities. Thus, the study fosters global market participants and policymakers to consider the nitty-gritties of stock market integration so as to benefit from international stock market diversification in the Asian region.