Cross-correlations between volatility, volatility persistence and stock market integration: the case of emergent stock markets

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of the two pairs of relationship, respectively volatility/market integration and volatility persistence/market integration, in the case of 20 emerging stock markets during the period 1999–2013. Employing the rolling windows approach we find that on most markets the persistent positive trend in volatility and volatility persistence is associated with the same trend in market integration. We use the detrending moving-average cross-correlation coefficients and we find positive cross-correlation that appears particularly in the long term and can only partly be attributed to the global financial crisis. The cross-section analysis shows that the markets which are more integrated display stronger volatility and volatility persistence, especially after 2005, when the level of market integration is higher. Our findings have several important implications for international portfolio management and security valuation.