Stock market integration of emerging Asian economies: Patterns and causes

In this study, we examine the patterns and causes of stock market integration of selected emerging Asian nations against the US, Australia, China, and India for the period 1 January 2001 to 31 March 2012. We compare patterns of market integration for countries on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis using the time-varying correlation technique, namely, GARCH-dynamic conditional correlations (DCCs). In doing so, we suggest that opportunities in cross border investment vary by frequencies. We also divide daily data into subsamples and find that correlations were strongest during the global financial crisis (GFC) of 2007–09. The time varying bilateral correlations are found to be highly volatile. We also investigate the causes of identified correlations and find that apart from the GFC, the underlying economic and financial conditions have also been responsible for the higher correlations between these stock markets.