Article
Virtual Integration of Financial Markets: A Dynamic Correlation Analysis of the Creation of the Latin American Integrated Market
Autor
Mellado, Cristhian
Escobari, Diego
Resumen
This paper investigates the role of virtual integration of financial markets on stock market return
co-movements. In May of 2011 the Chilean, Colombian, and Peruvian stock markets virtually
integrated their stock exchanges and central securities depositories to form the Latin American
Integrated Market (MILA). We utilize the dynamic conditional correlation model propose by
Engle (2002) to identify a statistically significant positive correlation between these markets.
Moreover, we find strong evidence that the creation of the MILA increased the levels of dynamic
correlation between stock returns. A higher correlation was also found during the dot-com
bubble and the 2007 financial crises. Our results imply a decline in gains from international
diversification by holding portfolios consisting of diverse stocks of these countries.