Unifractality and Multifractality in the Italian Stock Market
34 Pages Posted: 13 Oct 2008 Last revised: 5 Dec 2008
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Unifractality and Multifractality in the Italian Stock Market
Unifractality and Multifractality in the Italian Stock Market
Date Written: October 9, 2008
Abstract
Tests for the validity of the weak-form EMH in the Italian stock market are presented, based on examination of the fractal properties of the log returns series for the Mibtel index. The random walk hypothesis is evaluated against alternatives accommodating either unifractality or multifractality. Critical values for the test statistics are generated using Monte Carlo simulations of random Gaussian innovations. Evidence is reported of multifractality. Large positive moments of the distributions of returns measured at different frequencies are found to scale at a slower rate than the same moments for random Gaussian innovations, and the departure from random walk behaviour is statistically significant on standard criteria. The observed pattern is attributed primarily to antipersistence affecting large fluctuations in returns, or volatility clustering.
Keywords: Efficient Market Hypothesis, Fractal Market Hypothesis, Italy, Stock market
JEL Classification: C22, G12, G14
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation