How efficient are Africa's emerging stock markets?

Author: Magnusson Magnus Arni   Wydick Bruce  

Publisher: Routledge Ltd

ISSN: 0022-0388

Source: Journal of Development Studies, Vol.38, Iss.4, 2002-04, pp. : 141-156

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Abstract

The development of financial institutions has been viewed in recent years as critical to the economic development process. This research uses recent data from the eight largest African stock markets to test whether these markets meet the criterion of weak-form stock market efficiency with returns characterised by a random walk. Results are then compared with similar tests on emerging stock markets in South-east Asia and Latin America. Conclusions from the research indicate that test results for weak-form efficiency in the emerging African stock markets compare favorably with those performed on other emerging stock markets.