Fund characteristics immunity to COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from Thailand

Abstract

This research investigates the relationship between COVID-19 growth rates and the performance of Thai equity funds during the pandemic. Focusing on weeks with substantial increases in COVID-19 cases, we hypothesize that negative returns primarily originate from these weeks. We acknowledge the pandemic's impact as a black swan event, instilling fear and uncertainty, and its demonstrated negative effect on fund returns. Moreover, our research aims to identify the fund characteristics that have provided resilience and immunity to the negative effects of the crisis. Using a panel data regression with a fixed effect model, we analyze various fund characteristics and their impact on performance. The dataset covers the initial and peak periods of the pandemic in Thailand from March 2020 to October 2021, and performance is evaluated using three metrics: excess risk-free return, Sharpe ratio, and Jensen's alpha. The findings reveal a negative relationship between COVID-19 growth rates and domestic equity fund performance. Specifically, extreme growth cases have a significant detrimental effect on fund performance. However, certain fund characteristics, such as equity large-cap funds and fund age, demonstrate resilience and positive performance during the pandemic. The research contributes to our understanding of how fund characteristics and COVID-19 growth rates interact to influence performance. It provides valuable insights for investors and fund managers in fund selection and management strategies during challenging market conditions.