Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between oil prices and stock market returns for the G7 and the BRIC countries for the period 1991-2016 using cointegration and a vector error correction model. Results reveal that there is no long-run relationship between oil prices and the stock market indices of the G7 countries. However, they also reveal that there is a long-run relationship between oil prices and the stock market indices of three out of the four BRIC countries (Brazil, China and Russia). This result appears to be broadly aligned with the idea that over the past quarter of a century emerging countries have been more exposed to oil prices (either as producers or consumers) than developed ones. Furthermore, from an investments’ and international portfolio management perspective, it seems that there might be benefits from diversification when holding the stock market index of a G7 country or India and oil assets since these appear to be segmented. On the other hand, such benefits might not be applicable in the case of the stock markets of Brazil, China or Russia and oil assets as these seem to be integrated.

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