The Impact of COVID-19 Epidemic on the Hedging Islamic and Conventional Stock Markets with Financial Assets

This study investigates optimal hedging ratios for Islamic and conventional stock markets during the COVID-19 pandemic using the DCC (Dynamic Conditional Correlation), ADCC (Asymmetric Dynamic Conditional Correlation), and GO-GARCH (Generalized Orthogonal GARCH) models. The effectiveness of various financial assets as hedges is evaluated, and findings indicate that the DJCOM (Dow Jones Commodity), VISTOXX (Euro STOXX 50 Volatility Index), and VIX (Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index) indices exhibit superior effectiveness across both market types, particularly DJCOM showing exceptional performance during the COVID-19 period. The hedging analysis indicates that the hedge ratios vary and depend upon the hedge instrument included in the portfolio. Furthermore, the empirical results indicate that the global impact of the pandemic diminishes the viability of one of the six assets as a safe haven instrument. In conclusion, these findings provide valuable insights for investors and portfolio managers aiming to utilize Gold, Brent, VISTOXX, VIX, CDS (Credit Default Swap), and DJCOM for portfolio rebalancing to mitigate risks associated with volatile Islamic and conventional stock returns. These conclusions contribute significantly to helping investors adjust their investment strategies more effectively and adapt to changing market conditions.