Abstract:
We examine the effects of federal funds target rate changes and all types of FOMC communication on European and Pacific equity market returns using a GARCH model. We show that both types of news have a significant statistical and economic impact, but that the effects are not symmetric: target rate changes exert a larger influence, although several communication variables are statistically significant. Third, Pacific markets react more strongly than do European markets to FOMC news, whereas the latter are influenced by a greater variety of communications.