The Reaction of Stock Market Returns to Unemployment

Gonzalo, J.; Taamouti, A.

Abstract

We empirically investigate the short-run impact of anticipated and unanticipated unemployment rates on stock prices. We particularly examine the nonlinearity in the stock market’s reaction to the unemployment rate and study the effect at each individual point (quantile) of the stock return distribution. Using nonparametric Granger causality and quantile regression-based tests, we find that only anticipated unemployment rate has a strong impact on stock prices. Quantile regression analysis shows that the causal effects of anticipated unemployment rate on stock returns are usually heterogeneous across quantiles. For the quantile range 0.35, 0.80, an increase in the anticipated unemployment rate leads to an increase in stock market prices. For other quantiles, the impact is generally statistically insignificant. Thus, an increase in the anticipated unemployment rate is, in general, good news for stock prices. Finally, we offer a reasonable explanation for the reason, and manner in which, the unemployment rate affects stock market prices. Using the Fisher and Phillips curve equations, we show that a high unemployment rate is followed by monetary policy action of the Federal Reserve (Fed). When the unemployment rate is high, the Fed decreases the interest rate, which in turn increases the stock market prices.

Citation

Gonzalo, J., & Taamouti, A. (2017). The Reaction of Stock Market Returns to Unemployment. Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, 21(4), Article 20150078. https://doi.org/10.1515/snde-2015-0078

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 19, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jun 23, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 23, 2018
• Journal: Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics and Econometrics
• Print ISSN: 1081-1826
• Electronic ISSN: 1558-3708
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 20150078
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/snde-2015-0078
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1390423