Júlio Lobão

Global and Extreme Dependence Between Investor Sentiment and Stock Returns in European Markets

ABSTRACT The authors investigate the global and extreme dependence structure between investor sentiment and stock returns in 7 European stock markets (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the UK), over the period 1985–2015. Global dependence refers to the correlation of changes in sentiment and stock returns over the whole range of these 2 variables, and extreme dependence refers to the local correlation of high (i.e. asymptotic) changes in sentiment and high stock returns. Using copula models and a bootstrap procedure, 6 statistical tests are performed for this purpose. Among the results of the tests, the authors highlight those that provide evidence of contemporaneous lower extreme dependence and contemporaneous upper extreme independence between sentiment and returns. As policy implications, these results suggest that financial stability can be promoted if regulators consider the impact of their decisions on investor sentiment. Also, the results seem to support the arguments in favor of short selling ban during turmoil periods. Finally, overall, the results are relevant for both investors and regulators and reinforce the importance of considering investor sentiment to better understand the behavior of financial markets.

O efeito de smart money nos fundos de investimento: o caso português

O objetivo deste artigo e o de analisar a capacidade dos investidores em fundos de investimento para selecionar aqueles que apresentam rentabilidade mais elevada. Essa capacidade e denominada na literatura por efeito de smart money. A amostra utilizada diz respeito aos fundos sediados em Portugal, no periodo de 2003-2011. Os resultados indicam que, em geral, os investidores tiveram boa capacidade de selecao de fundos. Quando o mercado esta em fase de subida (descida) de precos, os investidores tem a pericia de selecionar os fundos onde investir (desinvestir), mas nao os fundos a liquidar (comprar). A intensidade do smart money parece ainda depender da categoria e da dimensao dos fundos transacionados.

The Use of the Recognition Heuristic as an Investment Strategy in European Stockmarkets

Purpose – People often face constraints such as a lack of time or information in taking decisions, which leads them to use heuristics. In these situations, fast and frugal rules may be useful for making adaptive decisions with fewer resources, even if it leads to suboptimal choices. When applied to financial markets, the recognition heuristic predicts that investors acquire the stocks that they are aware of, thereby inflating the price of the most recognized stocks. This paper aims to study the profitability against the market of the most recognized stocks in Europe. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, the authors perform a survey and use Google Trends to study the profitability against the market of the most recognized stocks in Europe. Findings – The authors conclude that a recognition heuristic portfolio yields poorer returns than a market portfolio. In contrast, from the data collected on Google Trends, weak evidence was found that strong increases in companies monthly search volumes may lead to abnormal returns in the followingmonth. Research limitations/implications – The applied investment strategy does not account for transaction costs, which may jeopardize its profitability given the fact that it is necessary to revise the portfolio on a monthly basis. Despite the results obtained, they are useful to understanding the performance of recognition heuristic strategies over a comprehensive time horizon, and it would be interesting to depict its viability during different market conditions. This analysis could provide additional information about a preferable scenario for employing our strategies and, ultimately, enhance the profitability of recognition heuristic strategies. Practical implications – Through the exhaustive analysis performed here on the recognition heuristic in the European stock market, it is possible to conclude that no evidence was found for the viability of exploring this type of strategy. In fact, the investors would always gain better returns when adopting a passive investment strategy. Therefore, it would be wise to assume that the European market presents at least a degree of efficiency where no investment would yield abnormal returns following the recognition heuristic. Originality/value – The main objective of this paper is to study the performance of the recognition heuristic in the financial markets and to contribute to the knowledge in this field. Although many authors have already studied this heuristic when applied to financial markets, there is a lack of consensus in the literature.

Otra mirada sobre la eficiencia de los mercados: el caso de las bolsas de apuestas de tenis

In this article, we investigate the efficiency of the top tennis betting market worldwide using an original database from the Betfair betting exchange. Usually, the results show that the prices have made up a good forecast on the outcome of the matches. Nevertheless, there are evidences that the punters react poorly to the information (which is consistent with the conservatism and anchoring biases) and that they assign a high gain probability to any players who happens to be dominating the match (consistent with the representativeness bias). Several lucrative betting strategies were found, which puts in check the efficiency of the reviewed betting market.In this article, we investigate the efficiency of the top tennis betting market worldwide using an original database from the Betfair betting exchange. Usually, the results show that the prices have made up a good forecast on the outcome of the matches. Nevertheless, there are evidences that the punters react poorly to the information (which is consistent with the conservatism and anchoring biases) and that they assign a high gain probability to any players who happens to be dominating the match (consistent with the representativeness bias). Several lucrative betting strategies were found, which puts in check the efficiency of the reviewed betting market.

Another look at the efficiency of markets: the case of the tennis betting exchanges

In this article, we investigate the efficiency of the top tennis betting market worldwide using an original database from the Betfair betting exchange. Usually, the results show that the prices have made up a good forecast on the outcome of the matches. Nevertheless, there are evidences that the punters react poorly to the information (which is consistent with the conservatism and anchoring biases) and that they assign a high gain probability to any players who happens to be dominating the match (consistent with the representativeness bias). Several lucrative betting strategies were found, which puts in check the efficiency of the reviewed betting market.In this article, we investigate the efficiency of the top tennis betting market worldwide using an original database from the Betfair betting exchange. Usually, the results show that the prices have made up a good forecast on the outcome of the matches. Nevertheless, there are evidences that the punters react poorly to the information (which is consistent with the conservatism and anchoring biases) and that they assign a high gain probability to any players who happens to be dominating the match (consistent with the representativeness bias). Several lucrative betting strategies were found, which puts in check the efficiency of the reviewed betting market.

UM OUTRO OLHAR SOBRE A EFICIÊNCIA DOS MERCADOS: O CASO DAS BOLSAS DE APOSTAS DE TÊNIS

In this article, we investigate the efficiency of the top tennis betting market worldwide using an original database from the Betfair betting exchange. Usually, the results show that the prices have made up a good forecast on the outcome of the matches. Nevertheless, there are evidences that the punters react poorly to the information (which is consistent with the conservatism and anchoring biases) and that they assign a high gain probability to any players who happens to be dominating the match (consistent with the representativeness bias). Several lucrative betting strategies were found, which puts in check the efficiency of the reviewed betting market.In this article, we investigate the efficiency of the top tennis betting market worldwide using an original database from the Betfair betting exchange. Usually, the results show that the prices have made up a good forecast on the outcome of the matches. Nevertheless, there are evidences that the punters react poorly to the information (which is consistent with the conservatism and anchoring biases) and that they assign a high gain probability to any players who happens to be dominating the match (consistent with the representativeness bias). Several lucrative betting strategies were found, which puts in check the efficiency of the reviewed betting market.