EFFECT OF PANDEMIC ON STOCK PRICE BEHAVIOUR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO S&P BSE HEALTHCARE INDEX
The outburst of pandemic has caused widespread disorder in the country and the stock market is not also free from its grip. Despite the decrement in the performance of sectoral indices, the pharma sector has outperformed in both the NSE and BSE stock exchanges. The present study focuses on the market behavior of S&P BSE Healthcare Index and its top ten constituent companies’ pre and post pandemic outbreak. The market behavior is measured in terms of the closing price of the index and its constituents which is being studied by using t-test. The results of the study indicated that there is no deviation in the performance of S&P BSE Healthcare Index after the outburst of pandemic. While eight of its constituent companies showed deviation in their performance post pandemic outbreak. Out of which most of the companies showed positive deviation post pandemic outburst. Therefore, it would be beneficial for the investors to invest in the pharma sector stocks amid the national crisis. KEYWORDS: Pandemic, Epidemic, Risk, Pharma sector.