Nonlinear Short-Run Adjustments between REITs and Stock Markets in the USA and Australia

Abstract

Abstract This study examines whether nonlinear co-integration exists between real estate investment trusts (REITs) and corresponding stock markets in the United States and Australia. Moreover, we employ the smooth-transition, vector-error correction model (STVECM) including the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model to separately explore the adjustment efficiencies of the short-run REITs and corresponding stock returns in dynamics. The empirical results demonstrate that there is a nonlinear co-integration with structural breaks between the equity and mortgage REITs and stock markets in the US as well as between the REITs and stock markets in Australia. When large positive and negative deviations of STVECM exist, the speed of equilibrium adjustment of the S&P 500 index is greater than that of the Mortgage REITs index. Additionally, the higher the equilibrium adjustment of Australian/US REITs index, the greater the reversion of Australian/US REITs index. Meanwhile, this study is also interested in finding out whether the REIT indices in the US or Australia would serve as a leading indicator for price movements. The result findings may provide a good reference for the investors’ investment engaged in the areas of these two countries. JEL Classification: C22, D53, G14, L85. Keywords: REITs, STVECM, Nonlinear Granger causality, GARCH.