School of Business publications portal
This portal is no longer updated. Aalto University School of Business Master's Theses are now in the Aaltodoc publication archive (Aalto University institutional repository)
School of Business | Department of Finance | Finance | 2016
Thesis number: 14605
Economic policy uncertainty and stock return synchronicity in the increasingly integrated European Union
Author: Palomäki, Roope
Title: Economic policy uncertainty and stock return synchronicity in the increasingly integrated European Union
Year: 2016  Language: eng
Department: Department of Finance
Academic subject: Finance
Index terms: rahoitus; financing; osakemarkkinat; stock markets; osakkeet; shares; tuotto; rate of return; epävarmuus; uncertainty; talouspolitiikka; economic policy; integraatio; integration; euro; euro; EU; EU
Pages: 73
Full text:
» hse_ethesis_14605.pdf pdf  size:2 MB (1770375)
Key terms: economic policy; talouspolitiikka; uncertainty; epävarmuus; synchronicity; osaketuottojen yhtenäisyys; integration; integraatio; European Union; Euroopan unioni; euro
Abstract:
I analyze how government policy uncertainty and economic integration affect stock return synchronicity in the European Union over the period 1990 to 2015, using the novel economic policy uncertainty indices of Baker, Bloom, and Davis (2015). I find that stock return synchronicity between and inside the member states increases with economic policy uncertainty, policy uncertainty is higher in weaker economic conditions, and synchronicity generally increases when economic conditions decline, when measured with GDP growth. These results are consistent with the theoretical predictions of Pástor and Veronesi (2013).

Furthermore, I find that stock return synchronicity between countries increases when joining the EU or the euro area, and the effect is stronger when joining the euro area. This suggests that currency integration is more important in the European financial markets than general economic integration. Joining the EU or the euro area also affects synchronicity inside the countries, but the direction of the effect depends on the country. I suggest that this may be due to differences in policy stability and the degree to which joining the EU develops the economic and financial systems in the country.

These findings show that policy uncertainty and the European integration may have important implications on the ability of investors to diversify their portfolios, on market efficiency, and on the effectiveness of corporate governance methods.
Electronic publications are subject to copyright. The publications can be read freely and printed for personal use. Use for commercial purposes is forbidden.