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International equity holdings and stock returns correlations: Does diversification matter at all for portfolio choice?

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  • Nicolas Coeurdacier

    (PJSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris sciences et lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Stéphane Guibaud

    (PJSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris sciences et lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Do investors completely ignore the basics of portfolio theory? Given their over-exposure on domestic risk, investors should try to hedge this risk by picking foreign assets that have low correlation with their home assets. In the data though, we find a robust positive relationship between bilateral equity holdings and bilateral return correlations. We argue that this finding could be driven by the common impact of "financial integration" on cross-border equity holdings and on cross-market correlations. Indeed, when we instrument current correlation with past correlation to control for endogeneity, we recover asset demand functions that decrease with return correlation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Coeurdacier & Stéphane Guibaud, 2005. "International equity holdings and stock returns correlations: Does diversification matter at all for portfolio choice?," Working Papers halshs-00590777, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00590777
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00590777
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Barry Eichengreen & Pipat Luengnaruemitchai, 2008. "Bond Markets as Conduits for Capital Flows: How Does Asia Compare?," NBER Chapters, in: International Financial Issues in the Pacific Rim: Global Imbalances, Financial Liberalization, and Exchange Rate Policy, pages 267-313, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Philip R. Lane, 2006. "Global Bond Portfolios and EMU," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 2(2), May.
    3. Fabian J. Baier & Paul J. J. Welfens, 2019. "The UK’s banking FDI flows and Total British FDI: a dynamic BREXIT analysis," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 193-213, March.
    4. Okawa, Yohei & van Wincoop, Eric, 2012. "Gravity in International Finance," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 205-215.
    5. Bhamra, Harjoat S. & Coeurdacier, Nicolas & Guibaud, Stéphane, 2014. "A dynamic equilibrium model of imperfectly integrated financial markets," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 490-542.

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