Risk and return implications from investing in emerging European stock markets

The dynamic linkages and the effects of time-varying volatilities are investigated for major emerging Central European (CE) and developed stock markets. Risk and return implications for portfolio diversification to these markets are assessed, causal lead-lag relationships are identified and asymmetric volatility effects are evaluated. The presence of one cointegration vector indicates market comovements towards a stationary long-run equilibrium path. Central European markets tend to display stronger linkages with their mature counterparts rather than their neighbors. An asymmetric EGARCH model indicates varying but persistent volatility effects for the CE markets. International portfolio diversification can be less effective across cointegrated markets because risk cannot be reduced substantially and return can exhibit a volatile reaction to domestic and international shocks. The possibility of arbitrage short-run profits, however is not ruled out.