Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between financial hegemony groups, global diversification strategies and firm value of the Malaysia’s 30 largest companies listed in FTSE Bursa Malaysia Index Series during 2009 to 2012 period. We chose Malaysia as an ideal setting because the findings contribute to the phenomenon of the diversification–performance relationship in the Southeast Asian countries. We apply hegemony stability theory to explain the importance of financial hegemony groups in deciding international locations for operations. By using panel data analysis, we find that financial hegemony groups are significantly important in international location decisions. Results reveal that the stability of financial hegemony in BRICS and G7 groups enhances the financial value of the Malaysia’s 30 largest companies, whereas the stability of financial hegemony in ASEAN groups is able to enhance the non-financial value of the firms. Overall, this paper suggests that in order to diversify globally, it is necessarily for the manager in the guest country to evaluate and fully understand the host country’s geopolitical situation and its financial stability.

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