Exploring the Driving Forces of Stock-Cryptocurrency Comovements during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Using Wavelet Coherence and Seemingly Unrelated Regression

This paper estimates the comovement between two leading cryptocurrencies and the G7 stock markets. It then attempts to explain the comovement with the rational investment theory by examining whether it is driven by market uncertainty measures, public attention to COVID-19, and the government’s conta...

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Main Authors: Ruzita Abdul-Rahim, Airil Khalid, Zulkefly Abdul Karim, Mamunur Rashid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Mathematics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/10/12/2116
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author Ruzita Abdul-Rahim
Airil Khalid
Zulkefly Abdul Karim
Mamunur Rashid
author_facet Ruzita Abdul-Rahim
Airil Khalid
Zulkefly Abdul Karim
Mamunur Rashid
author_sort Ruzita Abdul-Rahim
collection DOAJ
description This paper estimates the comovement between two leading cryptocurrencies and the G7 stock markets. It then attempts to explain the comovement with the rational investment theory by examining whether it is driven by market uncertainty measures, public attention to COVID-19, and the government’s containment and health responses to COVID-19. Wavelet Coherence heatmaps show that the stock-cryptocurrency comovements increase significantly and positively during the pandemic, indicating that cryptocurrencies lose their safe haven properties against stocks during the heightened market uncertainties. Over the longer investment horizons, Bitcoin reemerges as a safe haven or strong hedger while Ethereum’s properties weaken. Seemingly Unrelated Regression results reveal that the stock-cryptocurrency comovements are rationally explained by market uncertainties, government responses to COVID-19, and market fundamentals. However, the comovements are also driven by the fear of COVID-19 to a certain extent. Our findings offer valuable insights for investors considering cryptocurrencies to rebalance their equity portfolios during market distress. For policymakers, the Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) results suggest that government policies and regulatory frameworks can be used to regulate speculation and investment activities in the cryptocurrency market.
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spelling doaj.art-9b6e32d42d0147799b4b9bcf02efa40e2023-11-23T17:49:58ZengMDPI AGMathematics2227-73902022-06-011012211610.3390/math10122116Exploring the Driving Forces of Stock-Cryptocurrency Comovements during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Using Wavelet Coherence and Seemingly Unrelated RegressionRuzita Abdul-Rahim0Airil Khalid1Zulkefly Abdul Karim2Mamunur Rashid3Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, MalaysiaSchool of Economics, Finance and Banking, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok 06010, Kedah, MalaysiaFaculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, MalaysiaChrist Church Business School, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury CT1 1QU, UKThis paper estimates the comovement between two leading cryptocurrencies and the G7 stock markets. It then attempts to explain the comovement with the rational investment theory by examining whether it is driven by market uncertainty measures, public attention to COVID-19, and the government’s containment and health responses to COVID-19. Wavelet Coherence heatmaps show that the stock-cryptocurrency comovements increase significantly and positively during the pandemic, indicating that cryptocurrencies lose their safe haven properties against stocks during the heightened market uncertainties. Over the longer investment horizons, Bitcoin reemerges as a safe haven or strong hedger while Ethereum’s properties weaken. Seemingly Unrelated Regression results reveal that the stock-cryptocurrency comovements are rationally explained by market uncertainties, government responses to COVID-19, and market fundamentals. However, the comovements are also driven by the fear of COVID-19 to a certain extent. Our findings offer valuable insights for investors considering cryptocurrencies to rebalance their equity portfolios during market distress. For policymakers, the Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) results suggest that government policies and regulatory frameworks can be used to regulate speculation and investment activities in the cryptocurrency market.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/10/12/2116containment and Health IndexCOVID-19 pandemichedgeinvestor sentimentmarket uncertaintiespublic’s attention
spellingShingle Ruzita Abdul-Rahim
Airil Khalid
Zulkefly Abdul Karim
Mamunur Rashid
Exploring the Driving Forces of Stock-Cryptocurrency Comovements during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Using Wavelet Coherence and Seemingly Unrelated Regression
Mathematics
containment and Health Index
COVID-19 pandemic
hedge
investor sentiment
market uncertainties
public’s attention
title Exploring the Driving Forces of Stock-Cryptocurrency Comovements during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Using Wavelet Coherence and Seemingly Unrelated Regression
title_full Exploring the Driving Forces of Stock-Cryptocurrency Comovements during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Using Wavelet Coherence and Seemingly Unrelated Regression
title_fullStr Exploring the Driving Forces of Stock-Cryptocurrency Comovements during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Using Wavelet Coherence and Seemingly Unrelated Regression
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Driving Forces of Stock-Cryptocurrency Comovements during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Using Wavelet Coherence and Seemingly Unrelated Regression
title_short Exploring the Driving Forces of Stock-Cryptocurrency Comovements during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Using Wavelet Coherence and Seemingly Unrelated Regression
title_sort exploring the driving forces of stock cryptocurrency comovements during covid 19 pandemic an analysis using wavelet coherence and seemingly unrelated regression
topic containment and Health Index
COVID-19 pandemic
hedge
investor sentiment
market uncertainties
public’s attention
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/10/12/2116
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