We examined volatility spillover effects from five prominent global stock markets to India’s stock market during the pre-and-post COVID-19 outbreak using daily adjusted closing prices between January 2019 and September 2021 from six capital markets. The structural breakpoint was identified as 23 March 2020, as per the breakpoint unit root test, to examine and compare the results pre-and-post COVID-19. Results show that previous period news and volatility feeds the next period’s volatility significantly and the volatility is found to be persistent. The analysis also shows that during the pre-COVID period there is a negative significant volatility spillover from four of the five selected stock markets (Australia, China, Japan, and Germany) to the Indian stock market, and that spillover continues in the post-COVID period. There is a positive significant return and volatility spillover from the US market to the Indian stock market in the post-COVID-19 period. The results of our study will be useful for retail investors and portfolio managers in understanding the portfolio allocation methods in case of volatility spillover arising due to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The purpose of the paper is to develop a risk measure in the form of a risk index and a governance index as an indicator of the quality of governance structure. Using the Delphi technique, two indices are developed (risk index and corporate governance index (CGI)); subsequently, using the 10-year (2005–2015) data of top Indian Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and diff-GMM regression (to deal with endogeneity), indices have been validated. Though the data set may appear old, it has only been used to test the risk index and analyze the results. Empirical evidence on indices indicates that Indian PSUs have ‘moderate’ risk levels and ample scope for improvement in their governance structure. Further, a positive relation between governance index and returns and negative relation between risk index and returns lend credence to the indices developed in the study. Notably, the governance index appears to be a moderating variable in the relationship between risk and return. It is perhaps the first study to put forth a comprehensive measure of risk to measure risk levels of PSUs and prescribe a measure of the quality of governance structure. While constructing the CGI, certain non-compliances were observed, even in terms of mandatory requirements, such as the proportion of PSUs may take independent directors. The new datasets may further check for compliance and its effect on the results. Such infringements call for stringent penal provisions and better monitoring of PSUs. Further, if the normative frameworks are adhered to as per the study by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), more effective and efficient decisions with lower risks, and hassle-free management resulting in better return on assets and return on equity.