Exploring crisis-driven return spillovers in APEC stock markets: A frequency dynamics analysis

Abstract

This study investigates return spillovers in APEC region stock markets influenced by three major crises (the global financial crisis (GFC), the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Russia- Ukraine conflict). The Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) approach with the Baruník and Křehlík (2018) methodology is employed. The results indicate that the spillover effect is crisis-sensitive, time-varying, and frequency-dependent across the APEC countries' equity markets. The GFC had the most significant spillover effect, followed by COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While New Zealand, Vietnam, and the Philippines are the net risk recipients, the larger economies of the US, Canada, and Mexico are net risk contributors. Moreover, we analyzed return spillover across three different frequencies for three sub-periods, revealing that the GFC dominates short-term spillovers (five days/one week), while COVID-19 dominates long-term (above five days). Results reveal a fascinating aspect of hedging, highlighting that its costs are higher over the long term than the short term. Interestingly, hedging proves to be more effective over a long time, particularly during crises, thus emphasizing the crucial role played by the time-investment horizon factor.