Correlation Breakdown and Extreme Dependence in Emerging Equity Markets

Abstract

This study investigates the dependence structure of extreme realization of returns between the mature markets of Japan and the U.S. and the emerging markets of Cyprus, Greece and that of six Asia- Pacific counties, with the application of multivariate Extreme Value Theory that best suits to the problem under investigation. The evidence we obtain indicates that the left tail extreme correlations (downside risk) are not substantially different from the unconditional ones or from those obtained from a multivariate Dynamic Conditional Correlation GARCH model (DCC) with asymmetric GJRGARCH univariates. Moreover, a clustering analysis shows that the examined countries do not belong to a distinct block on the basis of the extreme correlations we have estimated. The policy implications are that the benefits from portfolio diversification between the Cyprus stock market and the markets of Asia-Pacific countries, Greece, Japan and the U.S. are not eroded during crisis periods, in that no “correlation breakdown” has been witnessed.