Biography
Prof. Amalendu Bhunia
Prof. Amalendu Bhunia
University of Kalyani, India
Title: International Stock Market Integration during the Pandemic Crisis
Abstract: 

This study examines the global stock market integration during the period of Covid-19. International stock markets relationship has major implications for international diversification. Low relationship indicates apparent gains from international diversifications however strong relationship reduces the lagging of home stock market from every global consequence. This study is based on daily stock market return collected from yahoo.finance database, in the course of analysis; ARDL bound test method as well as a Granger Causality/Block Exogeniety test under VECM model has been used. The empirical results show that there is no long-run relationship and there are some short-run connections among selected international stock markets during the period of pandemic. However, there subsists feeble price convergence among stock markets and stock market integration is inequitable as well as in an inadequate shape. The asymmetric model of price behaviour of selected international stock markets has significant inferences for the pricing effectiveness of countrywide markets and recommends arbitrage prospective for international investors to optimize returns in the course of market diversifications on a long-term standpoint. 


Keywords: Market integration, stock market returns, ARDL model, causality test, portfolio diversification.

Biography: 
Dr. Amalendu Bhunia [M.Com. (1st Class), M. Phil. (1st Class), P.G.D.F.M. (1st Class), Ph.D.], is a Professor, Department of Commerce, and Dean, Faculty of Arts & Commerce, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India. He has experience in teaching the subject of finance, taxation, and statistics for more than 22 years. He has published 109 research articles and 9 books in national and international repute. At present, his Google Scholar Citation is 1405 with an h-index of 20. He has completed 2 major and 2 minor research projects funded by the University Grants Commission, India, and the Indian Council of Social Science Research. His research interests are in the financial markets, corporate finance, international finance, and behavioral finance. He has presented 52 research papers at various international and national conferences. Presently he is serving as a member of the editorial board in 22 international journals. He served as an Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Business (Science Published Group, USA) for two years. Now, he is an Editor-in-Chief, Indo-Asian Journal of Finance and Accounting (Academic Research Foundations Journals, India). Dr. Bhunia acted as a keynote speaker in 46 national, 21 international, and 10 foreign conferences. Also, he acted as a keynote speaker in China, Turkey, UK, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. He acted as a Chairperson in various national and foreign conferences including Thailand and Bangladesh. He is specialized as a resource person in the subject of ‘Research Methodology’ and ‘Statistical Analysis on Quantitative Data’. Seven research scholars have awarded the Ph.D. degree and seven scholars have awarded the M.Phil. degree under his supervision.