This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the stock markets of G-20 countries. We use an event study methodology to measure abnormal returns (ARs) and panel data regression to explain the causes of ARs. Our sample consists of indices in G-20 countries. The observed window comprises 58 days post the COVID-19 outbreak news release in the international media, and the estimation window consists of 150 days before the event date. We find statistically significant negative ARs in the four sub-event windows during the 58 days. Negative ARs are significant for developing as well as developed countries. The findings of this study reveal that cumulative average abnormal return (CAAR) from day 0 to day 43, ranging from –0.70 per cent to –42.69 per cent, is a consequence of increased panic in the stock markets resulting from an increased number of COVID-19 positive cases in the G-20 countries. From day 43 to day 57, CAAR ranging from –42.69 per cent to –29.77 per cent indicates the recovery of stock markets after a major stock price correction due to COVID-19. Additionally, the results of panel data analysis confirm the recovery of stock markets from the negative impact of COVID-19.

This article examines the herding behaviour at the industry level from national stock exchange (NSE). The novel contribution of this article is to examine the herding behaviour during the whole, pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak period. We deployed the popular model proposed by Chang et al. (2000) to examine herd formation. Using daily stock closing prices of 191 firms, which constitute the 12 industry indices for the period from 1 January 2015 to 1 June 2020, the results for the full sample period (1 January 2015 to 1 June 2020) and before COVID-19 outbreak period (1 January 2015 to 29 January 2020) indicate the non-existence of herding formation at the industry level, but they do suggest a strong evidence of anti-herding behaviour. In addition, during the bull and bear market conditions, we found evidence of herding behaviour during the post-COVID-19 outbreak period (1 January 2020 to 1 June 2020). Further, the findings suggest that COVID-19 pandemic caused the formation of herding behaviour at the industry level. The study facilitates investors to devise their trading strategies in the regime of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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