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The relationship between equity and bond returns: An empirical investigation

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  • Demirovic, Amer
  • Guermat, Cherif
  • Tucker, Jon

Abstract

The correlation between equity and corporate debt is ambiguous. News affecting the value of a firm's assets induces a positive correlation, whereas an increase in the volatility of a firm's assets induces a negative correlation. We examine the conditional correlation between these two securities. While the average correlation is positive, the conditional correlation increases with credit risk, and decreases with equity volatility. Our results are consistent with the thesis that the equity bond relation is dependent on the potential wealth transfer between stock and debt holders. Nevertheless, this relation seems to break down during periods of extreme market uncertainty.

Suggested Citation

  • Demirovic, Amer & Guermat, Cherif & Tucker, Jon, 2017. "The relationship between equity and bond returns: An empirical investigation," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 47-64.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finmar:v:35:y:2017:i:c:p:47-64
    DOI: 10.1016/j.finmar.2017.08.001
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    2. Thorsten Moenig, 2022. "It's RILA time: An introduction to registered index‐linked annuities," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 89(2), pages 339-369, June.
    3. Demirovic, Amer & Kabiri, Ali & Tuckett, David & Nyman, Rickard, 2020. "A common risk factor and the correlation between equity and corporate bond returns," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 116902, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Amer Demirovic & Ali Kabiri & David Tuckett & Rickard Nyman, 2020. "A common risk factor and the correlation between equity and corporate bond returns," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(2), pages 119-134, March.
    5. Munawar Sayyad & Pat Obi & Kaushik Bhattacharjee, 2022. "International equity and bond market dynamics an asymmetric error correction study of united states, india and brazil," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 42(1), pages 69-82.
    6. van Zundert, Jeroen, 2018. "Empirical studies on the cross-section of corporate bond and stock markets," Other publications TiSEM 338205fc-a031-4e06-a636-9, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    7. Jim Kyung-Soo Liew & Ahmad Ajakh, 2020. "Volatility-Adjusted 60/40 versus 100—New Risk Investing Paradigm," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-6, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Equity-bond correlation; Distance to default; Equity volatility;
    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
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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