How Asian and Global Economic crises Prevail in Chinese IPO and Stock Market Efficiency

Abstract

By considering two time windows of crises, first one is the time period of Asian financial crisis (1997-1999) and the other one is prevailing global economic crisis (2007-2009), the pattern of underpricing and aftermarket performance are studied. A sample of 626 companies and Market adjusted return model are used. Result indicates that in the recent global economic crisis IPO activity is on shrinking trend and there is 10% increase in average underpricing as compared to last Asian financial crisis. There is a fluctuating trend in aftermarket performance of IPO returns. A minimum return of 62% in 2009 is observed. This study also endeavors to examine the efficiency of Chinese stock market and how the Asian and global financial crisis influences the efficiency of Chinese stock market. In order to determine the efficiency of Chinese stock market we apply efficient market hypothesis of random walk. Here we apply ADF, DF-GLS, PP and KPSS tests on stock market returns in order to check the unit root in data series for both Shenzhen and Shanghai stock exchanges separately. The results of the study shows that Chinese stock market is weak form efficient and past data of stock market movements may not be very useable in order to make excess returns. In both periods of crises Chinese stock market is observed weak form efficient.