The Risk-Return Relationship in Crude Oil Markets during COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Time-Varying Coefficient GARCH-in-Mean Model

In this paper, we propose the new time-varying coefficient GARCH-in-Mean model. The benefit of our model is to allow the risk-return parameter in the mean equation to vary over time. At the end of 2019 to the beginning of 2020, the world witnessed two shocking events: COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 oil price war. So, we decide to use the daily data from December 2, 2019 to May 29, 2020, which cover these two major events. The purpose of this study is to find the dynamic movement between risk and return in four major oil markets: Brent, West Texas Intermediate, Dubai, and Singapore Exchange, during COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 oil price war. For the European oil market, our model found a significant and positive risk-return relationship in Brent during March 26-April 21, 2020. For the North America oil market, our model found a significant positive risk return relationship in West Texas Intermediate (WTI) during March 12-May 8, 2020. For the Middle East oil market, we found a significant and positive risk-return relationship in Dubai during March 12-April 14, 2020. Lastly, for the South East Asia oil market, we found a significant positive risk return relationship in Singapore Exchange (SGX) from March 9-May 29, 2020.