{"title":"Covid-19 and informational efficiency in Asian emerging markets: a comparative study of conventional and Shariah-compliant stocks","authors":"Muhammad Wajid Raza, Bahrawar Said, A. Elshahat","doi":"10.1108/imefm-01-2022-0041","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"\nPurpose\nThis study aims to provide a comparative insight into the level of informational efficiency and irregularities of Shariah-compliant stocks and conventional stocks in three emerging markets, namely, China, Malaysia and Pakistan. The empirical evidence is provided for pre-crisis and crisis periods caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.\n\n\nDesign/methodology/approach\nInformational efficiency is measured using the variance ratio (VR) Test developed by Kim (2006). The Approximate Entropy (ApEn) Metrics is used to investigate the level of irregularities in stock prices caused by the pandemic.\n\n\nFindings\nAll the three emerging markets in the sample are not immune to the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic. The level of informational efficiency of both the Shariah-compliant and conventional stock is affected by the crisis. However, the former exhibits relatively high level of informational efficiency and stability in returns as compared to more volatility of conventional stocks.\n\n\nPractical implications\nThis study provides market agents and policy makers with a robust assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on informational efficiency of Shariah-compliant and conventional stocks. Relatively high informational efficiency of Shariah-compliant stocks indicates that they are more transparent and that investors can trust the Shariah-compliant stocks more. This higher level of transparency and trust leads to more steady returns and lower levels of risk even during turbulent time like Covid-19. Investors can gain superior returns by conducting fundamental analysis and investing in index funds.\n\n\nOriginality/value\nTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that highlights the difference in informational efficiency of conventional stocks and Shariah-compliant stocks in the crisis period caused by Covid-19. Unlike previous studies, this study uses firm level data which enables firm-wise assessment of informational efficiency.\n","PeriodicalId":47091,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8000,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management","FirstCategoryId":"96","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/imefm-01-2022-0041","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BUSINESS, FINANCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a comparative insight into the level of informational efficiency and irregularities of Shariah-compliant stocks and conventional stocks in three emerging markets, namely, China, Malaysia and Pakistan. The empirical evidence is provided for pre-crisis and crisis periods caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
Informational efficiency is measured using the variance ratio (VR) Test developed by Kim (2006). The Approximate Entropy (ApEn) Metrics is used to investigate the level of irregularities in stock prices caused by the pandemic.
Findings
All the three emerging markets in the sample are not immune to the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic. The level of informational efficiency of both the Shariah-compliant and conventional stock is affected by the crisis. However, the former exhibits relatively high level of informational efficiency and stability in returns as compared to more volatility of conventional stocks.
Practical implications
This study provides market agents and policy makers with a robust assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on informational efficiency of Shariah-compliant and conventional stocks. Relatively high informational efficiency of Shariah-compliant stocks indicates that they are more transparent and that investors can trust the Shariah-compliant stocks more. This higher level of transparency and trust leads to more steady returns and lower levels of risk even during turbulent time like Covid-19. Investors can gain superior returns by conducting fundamental analysis and investing in index funds.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that highlights the difference in informational efficiency of conventional stocks and Shariah-compliant stocks in the crisis period caused by Covid-19. Unlike previous studies, this study uses firm level data which enables firm-wise assessment of informational efficiency.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management (IMEFM) publishes quality and in-depth analysis on current issues within Islamic and Middle Eastern finance and management. The journal welcomes strong evidence-based empirical studies and results-focused case studies that share research in product development and clarify best practices. The title is also keen to consider work from emerging authors. IMEFM has just also accepted into Clarivate''s SSCI in 2018, and its IF will be available in summer 2019, with citations dating from 2016. The coverage includes but is not limited to: -Islamic finance: Fundamentals, trends and opportunities in Islamic Finance, Islamic banking and financial markets, Risk management, Corporate finance, Investment strategy, Islamic social finance, Financial planning, Housing finance, Legal and regulatory issues, -Islamic management: Corporate governance, Customer relationship management and service quality, Business ethics and corporate social responsibility, Management styles and strategies in Shariah environments, Labour and welfare economics, Political economy. The journal is the only title aiming to give an interdisciplinary and holistic view on Islamic finance and business management practices in order to inform these two intertwined communities.