The impact of trade intensity and Market characteristics on asymmetric volatility, spillovers and asymmetric spillovers: Evidence from the response of international stock markets to US shocks

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between trade intensity and three stock market phenomena: asymmetric volatility, spillovers and asymmetric spillovers between the US and 74 international stock markets. The evidence is provided based on the cross-market models using the various measures from multivariate volatility models and the spillover indices. As stock trading gets more intensive, the market volatility responds proportionally stronger to a negative domestic shock than a positive one. Trade intensity also increases the spillovers of US shocks to the local markets. However, its impact diminishes at a higher level. Regarding other market characteristics, geographical distance, representing transaction costs or psychological /cultural obstacles, has a significant negative association with spillovers and the asymmetric spillovers. Less negative skewness, as stronger short-selling constraints, is associated with weaker spillovers. More volatile markets are generally linked to stronger asymmetries and spillovers.