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The Random Walk Model in the Pakistani Equity Market: An Examination

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  • Fazal Husain

    (Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad.)

Abstract

This paper examines the validity of the Random Walk Model in the Pakistani equity market. The model, extensively tested in other equity markets, implies that past movements in a stock price are not helpful in predicting future prices of that stock. The model states that changes in stock prices are serially independent and conform to some probability distribution. Conventionally, the independence part is examined through Serial Correlation Test, whereas the distributional aspect is analysed through Frequency Distributions. Same techniques are applied in this paper on daily closing prices of 36 individual stocks, 8 sector indices, and a market index from January 1, 1989 to December 30, 1993. The analysis indicates that the Random Walk Model is not valid in the Pakistani equity market as is the case in other emerging markets. The results show the presence of strong serial dependence in stock returns and indicate the slow adjustment of the market to new information. This points to the weaknesses of the market regarding the dissemination of pertinent information to potential investors, indicating that effective measures should be taken in this regard. The shape of the distribution reveals that stock returns in the Pakistani market, like in other equity markets, do not comply with the normal distribution, implying that theoretical models must be used with caution.

Suggested Citation

  • Fazal Husain, 1997. "The Random Walk Model in the Pakistani Equity Market: An Examination," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 221-240.
    • Handle: RePEc:pid:journl:v:36:y:1997:i:3:p:221-240
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Salman Syed Ali & Khalid Mustafa, 2001. "Testing Semi-strong Form Efficiency of Stock Market," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 40(4), pages 651-674.
    2. Musarrat SHAMSHIR & Mirza Jawwad BAIG & Khalid MUSTAFA, 2018. "Evidence of random walk in Pakistan stock exchange: An emerging stock market study," Journal of Economics Library, KSP Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 103-117, March.
    3. Madhumita Chakraborty, 2006. "Market Efficiency for the Pakistan Stock Market," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 7(1), pages 67-81, March.
    4. Ume Habibah & Niaz Hussain Ghumro & Manzoor Ali Mirani, 2017. "Testing the Random Walk Hypothesis: A Case of Pakistan," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 7(7), pages 551-564, July.
    5. Ushna Akber & Nabeel Muhammad, 2014. "Is Pakistan Stock Market Moving towards Weak-Form Efficiency? Evidence from The Karachi Stock Exchange and the Random Walk Nature of Free-Float of Shares of KSE 30 Index," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 4(6), pages 808-836, June.
    6. Rashid, Abdul, 2007. "Stock prices and trading volume: An assessment for linear and nonlinear Granger causality," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 595-612, August.
    7. Akber, Ushna & Muhammad, Nabeel, 2013. "Is Pakistan Stock Market moving towards Weak-form efficiency? Evidence from the Karachi Stock Exchange and the Random Walk Nature of free-float of shares of KSE 30 Index," MPRA Paper 49128, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Hiremath, Gourishankar S & Bandi, Kamaiah, 2009. "On the random walk characteristics of stock returns in India," MPRA Paper 46499, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Khalid Mustafa & Mohammed Nishat, 2007. "Testing for Market Efficiency in Emerging Markets: A Case Study of the Karachi Stock Market," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 12(1), pages 119-140, Jan-Jun.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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