Impact of Brexit news on the stock prices of european insurance companies: an event study approach based on indexation and sub-indexation

Abstract

The Brexit referendum in June 2016 led to different publications analysing stock market reactions. This study addresses a research gap, regarding the consideration of other Brexit events and the focus on stock prices of European insurance companies, by using a further refined event study approach based on indexation and sub-indexation. In scope are 17 listed insurance companies based in the European Union or the United Kingdom represented by the Insurance Index. To analyse potential dependencies between abnormal returns and the location of the company (European Union or United Kingdom) or the share of insurance business written in the United Kingdom, the Insurance Index is divided into four sub-indices. The results show significant positive or negative abnormal returns of the Insurance Index. In addition, the sub-indices react differently to the events under consideration. Trends are suggesting that significant abnormal returns may depend on the location and the share of insurance business written in the United Kingdom.