A study of the efficiency of the Chinese clean energy stock market and its correlation with the crude oil market based on an asymmetric multifractal scaling behavior analysis

We examine the multifractal scaling behavior and market efficiency of China’s clean energy stock indexes using an asymmetric multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (A-MFDFA) and then investigate the tail correlation between this index and the crude oil market via an asymmetric multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis (A-MFDCCA). First, we reveal that the overall, upward and downward trends of the clean energy stock indexes all have significant multifractal characteristics. The clean energy stock market is far from efficient regardless of whether the fluctuations are small or large. In addition, both upward and downward fluctuations exhibit considerable asymmetry. The significant gap between the downward and overall trends indicates that the downward trend following small-scale fluctuations implies weaker efficiency for investors. Furthermore,based on the sliding market deficiency measure (MDM),we find that the change in efficiency in the three trends significantly depends on the length of the window. In the short term, there is no significant efficiency difference among these three trends; however, in the long term, the asymmetry in the upward and downward trends has gradually increased,especially after December 2018. The results demonstrate that bear markets can offer considerably more opportunities for obtaining excess profits. Finally, we reveal that the cross-correlation between the trends of crude oil prices and low-carbon indexes exhibits significant multifractal characteristics. When the crude oil market is in a bull market or the low-carbon energy market is in a bear market, especially in a larger-scale fluctuation, investors should pay attention to the long-term influence of the counterparty market and carry out a hedging operation to avoid risks. •The clean energy series is inefficient, especially when it is in a downward trend.•Different trends of the crude oil and low-carbon markets influence each other.•The bull market of the crude oil market exhibits a significantly weaker efficiency.•Investors should pay more attention to long-term impact of the low-carbon market.•The weak efficiency of the low-carbon market downward trend is more significant.