Relationship between all share price index (ASPI) and macroeconomic variables: Evidence from Sri Lanka

The relationship between the All Share Price Index (ASPI) and macroeconomic variables namely the real economy, inflation rates, exchange rates, money supply, interest rates were investigated in the context of Sri Lanka. The empirical analysis was carried out by using 40 quarterly data observations where the period spanned from the 1st quarter of 2002 to the 4th quarter 2011. Data were collected from annual bulletins issued by the central bank of Sri Lanka. The methodology used in this study is the time series econometric techniques. Initially Unit root tests were conducted to check the time series stationary. For the stationary series Johansen Cointegration test is used to investigate the long run relationship and the short run relationship was investigated by using the Error correction model. Granger causality test was applied to test the causal relationship. It was revealed that there is a significant relationship between ASPI and the real economy in Sri Lanka. There is a moderate positive significant relationship between the narrow money supply and ASPI, and a moderately negative influence between the nominal wage rate of industrial and service sectors with ASPI at 5% significance level. It was noted that all other major branches of the economy insignificantly correlated to ASPI. Real economic variables and money supply variables have co-movement with the share price in long run equilibrium path. Neither long run nor short run relationship exists between ASPI and inflation rate, exchange rate and interest rates. Since all the real economy variables are leading indicators, they can be used to measure ASPI. Changes in inflation will have a certain impact on share market performance, and at the same time changes in share market will determine the flow of foreign investments to the economy. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and interest rate variables are not good indicators to measure ASPI in Sri Lanka.