A Study of the Effect of Macroeconomic Variables on Stock Market: Saudi Perspective

Abstract

As we know investment in the Saudi stock market (TASI) is gaining popularity particularly since 2001 (Report of Aljazira Capital – 2010), it is important to know the impact of different macro-economic variables on the returns of the Saudi stock market. In this regard along with an extensive literature review we also referred specific recent few important studies which considered the Saudi stock return as a dependent variable and other economic factors as the independent variables [Kalyanaraman and Al-Tuwajri (2014), Arouri and Rault (2010) and Onour (2008)]. This paper examines the three important factors influencing the returns in the Saudi Stock Exchange (TASI) based on the macroeconomic variables of Saudi Economy. The dependent variable taken here is the Saudi index that is TADAWUL All Stock Index (TASI) and the three independent variables considered for our study here are the Oil WTI, Saudi Exports and the PE Ratio. Correlation analysis revealed that Saudi Exports and the PE Ratio were found to be highly correlated with TASI at 1% level of significance whereas Oil WTI and TASI are significantly correlated at 5% level. Step-wise regression analysis of the data revealed that the multiple regression models is significant at 1% level and the variable PE Ratio was the most important determinant of TASI followed by Oil WTI and Saudi Exports. Further the three independent variables explain about 93% of variation in the TASI Last Price.