IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/ausecp/v62y2023i1p24-46.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of government policy responses of COVID‐19 pandemic on stock market liquidity for Australian companies

Author

Listed:
  • Talie Kassamany
  • Bernard Zgheib

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of government policy responses of COVID‐19 pandemic on stock market liquidity for listed Australian companies and for 11 different industries separately. A quantitative deductive approach is used for a sample of 1,452 companies with a total of 292,164 firm‐day observations over a period from January 25, 2020 to December 31, 2020 during the outbreak of COVID‐19. Univariate and multivariate (two‐way cluster‐robust panel regression) analysis were conducted. Data were collected from the Oxford COVID‐19 Government Response Tracker, Worldmeter, Refinitiv Workspace and Datastream. Our findings indicate that the influences of the six out of seven stringency policy responses reduced Australian equity market liquidity. However, public information campaigns enhanced market liquidity and hence trading activity. Among the 11 industries, our analysis shows that the non‐pharmaceutical interventions by the Australian government have significant and positive effects on four industries: Consumer non‐cyclicals, healthcare, financial and technology. However, the worse effects were depicted in the industrial (transportation) and energy industries. This study is important for investors, policymakers and regulators to understand the diverse effects of government policy responses of COVID‐19 on stock market liquidity to enhance financial stability. Moreover, understanding this effect is particularly important to decision‐makers such as portfolio and fund managers to manage their portfolios and trading activities during extreme turbulence times, such as COVID‐19. Unlike previous studies that focus on country analysis, this study examines on firm basis the impact of government interventions on stock market liquidity in a well developed Australian stock market.

Suggested Citation

  • Talie Kassamany & Bernard Zgheib, 2023. "Impact of government policy responses of COVID‐19 pandemic on stock market liquidity for Australian companies," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(1), pages 24-46, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ausecp:v:62:y:2023:i:1:p:24-46
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-8454.12280
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8454.12280
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/1467-8454.12280?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Md. Mahmudul Alam & Haitian Wei & Abu N. M. Wahid, 2021. "COVID‐19 outbreak and sectoral performance of the Australian stock market: An event study analysis," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 482-495, September.
    2. Markus K. Brunnermeier & Lasse Heje Pedersen, 2009. "Market Liquidity and Funding Liquidity," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 22(6), pages 2201-2238, June.
    3. Chun-Da Chen & Chin-Chun Chen & Wan-Wei Tang & Bor-Yi Huang, 2009. "The positive and negative impacts of the sars outbreak:a case of the Taiwan industries," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 43(1), pages 281-293, September.
    4. Thompson, Samuel B., 2011. "Simple formulas for standard errors that cluster by both firm and time," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 1-10, January.
    5. Kingsley Y. L. Fong & Craig W. Holden & Charles A. Trzcinka, 2017. "What Are the Best Liquidity Proxies for Global Research?," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 21(4), pages 1355-1401.
    6. Stefano Ramelli & Alexander F Wagner, 2020. "Feverish Stock Price Reactions to COVID-19," The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 9(3), pages 622-655.
    7. Mei-Ping Chen & Chien-Chiang Lee & Yu-Hui Lin & Wen-Yi Chen, 2018. "Did the S.A.R.S. epidemic weaken the integration of Asian stock markets? Evidence from smooth time-varying cointegration analysis," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 908-926, January.
    8. Michael Spence, 2002. "Signaling in Retrospect and the Informational Structure of Markets," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(3), pages 434-459, June.
    9. Nhan Huynh & Dat Nguyen & Anh Dao, 2021. "Sectoral Performance and the Government Interventions during COVID-19 Pandemic: Australian Evidence," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, April.
    10. Searat Ali & Benjamin Liu & Jen Je Su, 2016. "What determines stock liquidity in Australia?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(35), pages 3329-3344, July.
    11. Rösch, Christoph G. & Kaserer, Christoph, 2013. "Market liquidity in the financial crisis: The role of liquidity commonality and flight-to-quality," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(7), pages 2284-2302.
    12. Zhang, Dayong & Hu, Min & Ji, Qiang, 2020. "Financial markets under the global pandemic of COVID-19," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    13. Stefano Ramelli & Alexander F. Wagner, 2020. "Feverish Stock Price Reactions to COVID-19," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 20-12, Swiss Finance Institute.
    14. Zaremba, Adam & Kizys, Renatas & Tzouvanas, Panagiotis & Aharon, David Y. & Demir, Ender, 2021. "The quest for multidimensional financial immunity to the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from international stock markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    15. Katarzyna Czech & Michal Wielechowski, 2021. "Energy Commodity Price Response to COVID-19: Impact of Epidemic Status, Government Policy, and Stock Market Volatility," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(3), pages 443-453.
    16. Chung, Kee H. & Zhang, Hao, 2014. "A simple approximation of intraday spreads using daily data," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 94-120.
    17. Haochang Yang & Peidong Deng, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 and Government Intervention on Stock Markets of OECD Countries," Asian Economics Letters, Asia-Pacific Applied Economics Association, vol. 1(4), pages 1-6.
    18. Omair Haroon & Syed Aun R. Rizvi, 2020. "Flatten the Curve and Stock Market Liquidity – An Inquiry into Emerging Economies," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 2151-2161, August.
    19. Glosten, Lawrence R. & Milgrom, Paul R., 1985. "Bid, ask and transaction prices in a specialist market with heterogeneously informed traders," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 71-100, March.
    20. McTier, Brian C. & Tse, Yiuman & Wald, John K., 2013. "Do Stock Markets Catch the Flu?," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 48(3), pages 979-1000, June.
    21. Anas Alaoui Mdaghri & Abdessamad Raghibi & Cuong Nguyen Thanh & Lahsen Oubdi, 2020. "Stock market liquidity, the great lockdown and the COVID-19 global pandemic nexus in MENA countries," Review of Behavioral Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(1), pages 51-68, November.
    22. Mark Lang & Karl V. Lins & Mark Maffett, 2012. "Transparency, Liquidity, and Valuation: International Evidence on When Transparency Matters Most," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3), pages 729-774, June.
    23. Zaremba, Adam & Aharon, David Y. & Demir, Ender & Kizys, Renatas & Zawadka, Dariusz, 2021. "COVID-19, government policy responses, and stock market liquidity around the world: A note," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    24. Zaremba, Adam & Kizys, Renatas & Aharon, David Y. & Demir, Ender, 2020. "Infected Markets: Novel Coronavirus, Government Interventions, and Stock Return Volatility around the Globe," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    25. Baig, Ahmed S. & Butt, Hassan Anjum & Haroon, Omair & Rizvi, Syed Aun R., 2021. "Deaths, panic, lockdowns and US equity markets: The case of COVID-19 pandemic," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    26. Shuming Liu, 2015. "Investor Sentiment and Stock Market Liquidity," Journal of Behavioral Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 51-67, January.
    27. Allaudeen Hameed & Wenjin Kang & S. Viswanathan, 2010. "Stock Market Declines and Liquidity," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(1), pages 257-293, February.
    28. Corbet, Shaen & Larkin, Charles & Lucey, Brian, 2020. "The contagion effects of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from gold and cryptocurrencies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    29. Xiaoxia Lou & Tao Shu, 2017. "Price Impact or Trading Volume: Why Is the Amihud (2002) Measure Priced?," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 30(12), pages 4481-4520.
    30. Goodell, John W. & Huynh, Toan Luu Duc, 2020. "Did Congress trade ahead? Considering the reaction of US industries to COVID-19," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    31. Chiu, Junmao & Chung, Huimin & Ho, Keng-Yu & Wu, Chih-Chiang, 2018. "Investor sentiment and evaporating liquidity during the financial crisis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 21-36.
    32. repec:eme:mfppss:mf-06-2019-0265 is not listed on IDEAS
    33. Frank L. Heflin & Kenneth W. Shaw & John J. Wild, 2005. "Disclosure Policy and Market Liquidity: Impact of Depth Quotes and Order Sizes," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(4), pages 829-865, December.
    34. Randi Næs & Johannes A. Skjeltorp & Bernt Arne Ødegaard, 2011. "Stock Market Liquidity and the Business Cycle," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 66(1), pages 139-176, February.
    35. Das, Sanjiv R. & Hanouna, Paul, 2009. "Hedging credit: Equity liquidity matters," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 112-123, January.
    36. Ichev, Riste & Marinč, Matej, 2018. "Stock prices and geographic proximity of information: Evidence from the Ebola outbreak," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 153-166.
    37. Goyenko, Ruslan Y. & Holden, Craig W. & Trzcinka, Charles A., 2009. "Do liquidity measures measure liquidity?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(2), pages 153-181, May.
    38. Khanna, Naveen & Sonti, Ramana, 2004. "Value creating stock manipulation: feedback effect of stock prices on firm value," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 237-270, June.
    39. repec:oup:rfinst:v:21:y:2017:i:4:p:1355-1401. is not listed on IDEAS
    40. Wagner, Alexander F. & Ramelli, Stefano, 2020. "Feverish Stock Price Reactions to COVID-19," CEPR Discussion Papers 14511, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    41. Niklas Karlsson & George Loewenstein & Duane Seppi, 2009. "The ostrich effect: Selective attention to information," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 95-115, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Abakah, Emmanuel Joel Aikins & Karikari, Nana Kwasi & Gil-Alana, Luis Alberiko, 2022. "The outbreak of COVID-19 and stock market liquidity: Evidence from emerging and developed equity markets," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    2. Chebbi, Kaouther & Ammer, Mohammed Abdullah & Hameed, Affan, 2021. "The COVID-19 pandemic and stock liquidity: Evidence from S&P 500," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 134-142.
    3. Yarovaya, Larisa & Brzeszczyński, Janusz & Goodell, John W. & Lucey, Brian & Lau, Chi Keung Marco, 2022. "Rethinking financial contagion: Information transmission mechanism during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Cakici, Nusret & Zaremba, Adam, 2021. "Who should be afraid of infections? Pandemic exposure and the cross-section of stock returns," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    5. Demir, Ender & Danisman, Gamze Ozturk, 2021. "Banking sector reactions to COVID-19: The role of bank-specific factors and government policy responses," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    6. Isabel Carrillo-Hidalgo & Juan Ignacio Pulido-Fernández & José Luis Durán-Román & Jairo Casado-Montilla, 2023. "COVID-19 and tourism sector stock price in Spain: medium-term relationship through dynamic regression models," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-24, December.
    7. Rouatbi, Wael & Demir, Ender & Kizys, Renatas & Zaremba, Adam, 2021. "Immunizing markets against the pandemic: COVID-19 vaccinations and stock volatility around the world," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. Rahman, Md Lutfur & Al Mamun, Mohammed Abdullah, 2021. "How resilient are the Asia Pacific financial markets against a global pandemic?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. Aharon, David Y. & Siev, Smadar, 2021. "COVID-19, government interventions and emerging capital markets performance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    10. Chiah, Mardy & Zhong, Angel, 2020. "Trading from home: The impact of COVID-19 on trading volume around the world," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    11. Nguyen, Hung T. & Pham, Mia Hang & Truong, Cameron, 2023. "Leadership in a pandemic: Do more able managers keep firms out of trouble?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    12. Zaremba, Adam & Kizys, Renatas & Tzouvanas, Panagiotis & Aharon, David Y. & Demir, Ender, 2021. "The quest for multidimensional financial immunity to the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from international stock markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    13. Pattanaporn Chatjuthamard & Pavitra Jindahra & Pattarake Sarajoti & Sirimon Treepongkaruna, 2021. "The effect of COVID‐19 on the global stock market," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(3), pages 4923-4953, September.
    14. Huynh, Nhan & Dao, Anh & Nguyen, Dat, 2021. "Openness, economic uncertainty, government responses, and international financial market performance during the coronavirus pandemic," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    15. Heyden, Kim J. & Heyden, Thomas, 2021. "Market reactions to the arrival and containment of COVID-19: An event study," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    16. Giovanni Cardillo & Ennio Bendinelli & Giuseppe Torluccio, 2023. "COVID‐19, ESG investing, and the resilience of more sustainable stocks: Evidence from European firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 602-623, January.
    17. Wang, Zhixuan & Dong, Yanli & Liu, Ailan, 2022. "How does China's stock market react to supply chain disruptions from COVID-19?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    18. Farooque, Omar Al & Baghdadi, Ghasan & Trinh, Hai Hong & Khandaker, Sarod, 2023. "Stock liquidity during COVID-19 crisis: A cross-country analysis of developed and emerging economies, and economic policy uncertainty," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    19. Yousaf, Imran & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2022. "Spillovers between the Islamic gold-backed cryptocurrencies and equity markets during the COVID-19: A sectorial analysis," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    20. Szczygielski, Jan Jakub & Charteris, Ailie & Bwanya, Princess Rutendo & Brzeszczyński, Janusz, 2022. "The impact and role of COVID-19 uncertainty: A global industry analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:ausecp:v:62:y:2023:i:1:p:24-46. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0004-900X .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.