The Interconnectedness between COVID-19 Uncertainty and Stock Market Returns in Selected ASEAN Countries

Abstract

This paper examines the interconnectedness between the COVID-19 uncertainty index and stock returns in selected ASEAN countries. Results from the study, which uses the dynamic connectedness approach, show that on average, 47.06% of a shock on one index spills over to all other indices. This indicates that stock market returns are highly interconnected to the COVID-19 uncertainty index in ASEAN countries. However, the COVID-19 uncertainty index is not a predictor of stock returns in the ASEAN countries chosen for the study.