Examining Herding Behaviour and Its Impact on Stock Market Volatility: Insights from Asian Economies

Objective: This study empirically investigates herding bias in six key Asian countries—Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and India—across different periods (pre-, during, and post-COVID-19). It analyzes herding behaviour during COVID and non-COVID periods, exploring its impact on volatility and examining asymmetry during bearish and bullish market conditions. Design/Methods/Approach: The investigation employs the Cross-Sectional Absolute Deviation (CSAD) model with a polynomial regression to scrutinize herding behaviour. A GARCH (1,1) volatility model is also established to assess the relationship between herding and volatility. The sample includes daily stock returns from the mentioned countries from January 2, 2019, to September 30, 2023. Findings: The study reveals the presence of herding behaviour in China and Singapore. In Indonesia and China, herding is evident, specifically during and after the COVID period. The research confirms that herding influences volatility and exhibits asymmetry. Herding is more pronounced during bearish market conditions in China, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical insights into herding behaviour comparing in Asian markets, while others research usually only focus on one country. This study further distinguishes itself by examining post-pandemic periods, a unique aspect as most studies typically focus only on pre- and during-COVID periods. Including volatility and asymmetry aspects enriches understanding the nuanced relationship between herding and market conditions. Practical/Policy implication: Investors should remain cautious of short-term herding-induced volatility, leveraging stability for consistent profits. Recognizing limited diversification during market losses is crucial. Additionally, governments and regulators should focus on enhancing market transparency and investor education, investing in robust market infrastructure to mitigate the impact of excessive herding