Dependence structures and risk spillover in China’s credit bond market: A copula and CoVaR approach

Abstract

This study uses a dynamic copula model of dependence to investigate risk spillovers in China’s credit bond market between the bank and corporate sectors for a range of maturities from one week to 30 years. Using daily data on credit spreads for the period December 28, 2009 to June 2, 2017, the empirical results show that credit risk spillover is low and relatively stable for medium-term bonds, but higher and more variable for short- and long-term bonds. The results also show that credit risk spillover increased after 2014 with financial market reforms that involved interest rate liberalization and a loosening of government guarantees on corporate debt.