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The cross-section of returns in frontier equity markets: Integrated or segmented pricing?

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  • Zaremba, Adam
  • Maydybura, Alina

Abstract

Is asset pricing segmented or integrated in frontier equity markets? To answer this question, we examine the returns on more than 4500 stocks from 22 frontier countries for the years 1997–2018. We evaluate the performance of a few major asset pricing models. We document strong value and momentum effects but find no consistent evidence regarding size, investment, and profitability premia. The recent six-factor model of Fama and French (2018) outperforms other models and best explains the cross-sectional and time-series variation in returns. Our results point to low integration of frontier equities, even after the global financial crisis. Local risk factors explain the behavior of prices much better than their global counterparts do. The low correlation of these risk factors allows augmenting the efficient frontier of an international investor.

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  • Zaremba, Adam & Maydybura, Alina, 2019. "The cross-section of returns in frontier equity markets: Integrated or segmented pricing?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 219-238.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:38:y:2019:i:c:p:219-238
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2019.02.003
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    4. Hourani, Alya & Wang, Yan & Demiralay, Sercan & McGroarty, Frank, 2023. "Industry costs of equity: Evidence from frontier markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    5. Stereńczak, Szymon & Zaremba, Adam & Umar, Zaghum, 2020. "Is there an illiquidity premium in frontier markets?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    6. Wil Martens & Prem W. S. Yapa & Maryam Safari, 2020. "The Impact of Financial Statement Comparability on Earnings Management: Evidence from Frontier Markets," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-25, November.
    7. Chang, Danting, 2021. "Fundamental anomalies and the size puzzle in China: A data mining approach," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    8. Cagliesi, Gabriella & Guidi, Francesco, 2021. "A three-tiered nested analytical approach to financial integration: The case of emerging and frontier equity markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Frontier equity markets; Factor models; Asset pricing; Stock market integration and segmentation; The cross-section of returns; Size; Value; Momentum; Profitability; Investment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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