Dynamic spillovers between natural gas and BRICS stock markets during health and political crises

Abstract

Previous research has primarily focused on external factors to refine predictions of natural gas volatility, a prominent cleaner fossil fuel. Yet, there's a gap in the literature regarding the intrinsic factors impacting the volatility of natural gas returns, especially during crises. Using the TVP-VAR frequency connectedness method, we uncover a pronounced dynamic integration and return transmission between natural gas and BRICS stock markets. Our findings emphasize a strong interconnectedness in both the lower and upper extremes of the return distribution, indicating the profound effects of both negative and positive extreme shocks. We also document symmetric spillover effects in tumultuous market conditions. Short-term spillovers are critical in transmitting shocks, while long-term ones define interconnectedness patterns. Notably, we identify assets that are net-receivers and net-transmitters, with natural gas consistently being a net receiver. Our results provide valuable insights for investors and portfolio managers, emphasizing the need for stringent risk management during crises like COVID-19 and the Russia–Ukraine conflict due to the presence of non-diversifiable systematic risks.