COVID-19 and the Discounting of Real Economic Activity in the U.S. and European Stock Markets
36 Pages Posted: 24 Apr 2020 Last revised: 27 Jan 2021
Date Written: January 27, 2021
Abstract
Using an extended version of the Gordon dividend discount model, the large falls in the U.S. and European stock market assets at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic are found to be the result of pricing expected future falls in real economic activity caused by the global shock. The subsequent boom in asset markets and reductions in volatility immediately following this initial fall in stock prices are caused by a strong connection of the central banks' balance sheet extension to the near-term stock market uncertainty. This connection of unconventional monetary policy actions is strongly priced in the U.S. and European markets.
Keywords: COVID-19, discounting, stock markets, macro factors, rare disasters, tail risk, unconventional monetary policy
JEL Classification: C54, C58, E32, E44, E58, G01, G12
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation