Interaction among stock prices and monetary variables in Pakistan

The interaction between stock market and monetary variables in Pakistan using monthly data for the last 20 years is examined. The Johansen co-integration approach is utilised to examine the equilibrium relationship between the stock price index, money supply, interest rates and a foreign exchange rate. An unrestricted VAR model is also used in order to analyse short-run dynamics and causality within these variables. The results report a long-run and significant relationship between these variables. In particular, the VAR model indicates that fluctuations in the KSE-100 index are significantly affected by the money supply and exchange rate but not the interest rate. Moreover, money supply has a positive relationship with the stock market and a negative relationship with interest rates and exchange rates. Interest rates have a weak and mixed relationship with all other variables. The dynamic relationships should aid policy-makers in understanding the effects of monetary policy changes.