Regional pull vs global push factors: China and US influence on Asia-Pacific financial markets

BIS Working Papers  |  No 579  | 
12 September 2016

This paper compares spillovers from the US and Chinese financial markets to the rest of Asia-Pacific. Structural VAR analysis points to the growing influence of Chinese equities and currency movements. In normal times China's influence in the equity market has risen to a level close to that of the United States, although the relative impact of the United States became stronger in crisis periods. Nonetheless, China's bond market remains a negligible player. The influence of China may be interpreted as a "regional pull" factor, while that of the United States remains a key "global push" factor. 

JEL classification: F30, G15

Keywords: China's impact, spillovers to Asian financial markets, US, structural VAR, sign restrictions

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BIS or its member central banks.