Day-of-the-week effect: A sectoral analysis of Pakistan stock exchange

Abstract

This study scrutinizes the day-of-the-week effect anomaly in the context of market and industry analysis of the Pakistan stock exchange. For this purpose, daily closing prices of KSE-100, KSE-30, and KSE-All Share Index from January 01, 2009 to December 31, 2018, have been used. Similarly, sector returns are also calculated, taking average log-returns of selected sample firms. To analyze the data ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, general generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) (1,1) as well as asymmetric threshold GARCH (TGARCH) and exponential GARCH (EGARCH) models have been employed to model the leverage effect of good and bad news on market volatility. The results indicate the evidence of daily seasonality, with significant Monday and Wednesday effect in PSX indices returns as well as in most of the industry returns. Monday is found to be the day with the highest average returns with the highest return volatility. The findings of the study reveal that there exists a weak form of inefficiency in the Pakistan Stock Market, which implies the possibility of earning abnormal returns by investors using timing strategies. In terms of return predictability, this study is essential for international and domestic investors and it may affect their investment strategy and return management. The results might be interesting to the financial experts as they ponder the available conditions in the capital market for financial decision-making. This study is one of its first kind that includes both indices as well as industry returns for analysis of manufacturing industries in Pakistan stock exchange.