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Hedging Covid-19 risk with ESG disclosure

Author

Listed:
  • Jin, Yuqian
  • Liu, Qingfu
  • Tse, Yiuman
  • Zheng, Kaixin

Abstract

Covid-19 has led to major changes worldwide and has had a significant impact on market risk. We characterize this uncertainty as innovations extracted from the Covid Risk Index on the Wall Street Journal through a textual analysis of high-dimensional data. We hedge the risk with mimicking portfolios constructed using the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) disclosure score as a measure of firm-level exposure to Covid-19 risk. The hedge portfolios perform well both in and out of sample. We also test the role of ESG in hedging and discover that during the Covid-19 pandemic firms with greater ESG disclosure generate higher returns as well as experience lower downside risk. The further analysis suggests that the portfolio returns can be explained by Covid risk shock and investment inflow, and the hedge effect mainly comes from the social part of ESG.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin, Yuqian & Liu, Qingfu & Tse, Yiuman & Zheng, Kaixin, 2023. "Hedging Covid-19 risk with ESG disclosure," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 27-46.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:88:y:2023:i:c:p:27-46
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2023.06.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lamont, Owen A., 2001. "Economic tracking portfolios," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 105(1), pages 161-184, November.
    2. Broadstock, David C. & Chan, Kalok & Cheng, Louis T.W. & Wang, Xiaowei, 2021. "The role of ESG performance during times of financial crisis: Evidence from COVID-19 in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
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    4. Conlon, Thomas & Corbet, Shaen & McGee, Richard J., 2020. "Are cryptocurrencies a safe haven for equity markets? An international perspective from the COVID-19 pandemic," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
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    Cited by:

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    2. Guo, Kun & Li, Yichong & Zhang, Yunhan & Chen, Yingtong & Ma, Yanran, 2024. "Cross-country risk spillovers of ESG stock indices: Dynamic patterns and the role of climate transition risks," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).
    3. Yousaf, Imran & Bejaoui, Azza & Ali, Shoaib & Li, Yanshuang, 2024. "Demystifying the dynamic relationship between news sentiment index and ESG stocks: Evidence from time-frequency wavelet analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    4. Liu, Qingfu & Shi, Chen & Tse, Yiuman & Wang, Chuanjie, 2023. "The value of communication during pandemics," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Talan, Gaurav & Sharma, Gagan Deep & Pereira, Vijay & Muschert, Glenn W., 2024. "From ESG to holistic value addition: Rethinking sustainable investment from the lens of stakeholder theory," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    6. Liu, Qingfu & Shi, Chen & Tse, Yiuman & Zhang, Linlin, 2023. "The impact of public health emergencies on small and medium-sized enterprises: Evidence from China," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    7. Janik, Bogna & Płuciennik, Piotr, 2024. "Corporate ESG indices and stability during periods of deep concerns in financial markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Covid-19 pandemic; ESG Disclosure; Hedge portfolios;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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