Ravi Shukla

Do locals perform better than foreigners?: An analysis of UK and US mutual fund managers

Abstract We hypothesize that local knowledge and contacts lead to superior returns for local mutual fund managers relative to foreign managers. To test this hypothesis, we study the performance of mutual funds in two countries: the US and UK. We examine the effectiveness of UK open end fund managers (foreigners) investing in the US relative to US open end fund managers (locals) investing in the US. Controlling for differential tax treatment, fund expenses, fund objectives, and currency risk, we find that UK mutual funds investing in the US perform worse than US domestic funds. We conclude that information/relationship disadvantages and fund size contribute to this poor performance.

Mutual fund objective misclassification

Abstract Mutual funds are usually classified based on their stated objectives. If the stated objectives are not the actual objectives the funds pursue, conclusions drawn by investors and researchers based on the stated objectives will be misleading. This study classifies funds based on their attributes (characteristics, investment style, and risk/return measures). We find that the stated objectives of more than half the funds differ from their attributes-based objectives, and over one third of the funds are severely misclassified. However, contrary to the reports in the financial press, we do not find that mutual funds are gaming their objectives, i.e., deviating from their stated objectives to earn a higher relative performance ranking. Keywords: Mutual funds; Investment objectives JEL classification: G11, G23

Persistent performance in the mutual fund market: Tests with funds and investment advisers

Recent studies of mutual funds have concluded that there is some evidence of superior performance. We test for the existence of superior performance and its persistence with mutual funds and mutual fund investment advisers on a data set of monthly returns from 1979 to 1989 for 1,387 mutual funds grouped by 243 advisers. We find no evidence of superior performance or its persistence but we do find significant evidence of persistence of inferior performance. Consistent with previous studies our findings depend on the benchmark chosen, with multiple benchmarks producing a larger degree of inferior performance.

Inflation and bond‐stock characteristics of international security returns

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to explain the cross-sectional variation in the relation between international security returns and expected inflation based on their sensitivities to world stock and bond factors. Design/methodology/approach – The paper shows regress inflation sensitivities of returns on country indexes and international mutual funds on their sensitivities to world stock and bond indexes. Findings – This paper shows the inflation sensitivity of a security is positively (negatively) related to its sensitivity to the world bond index (world stock index). Research limitations/implications – The paper shows that while the model is applicable to individual securities as well as portfolios, it is tested using portfolios only. Originality/value – The paper shows the results allow one to assess the inflation sensitivity of a security using its sensitivity to the bond and the stock market. The more bond-like a security is, the higher its sensitivity to inflation.

The effects of the global financial crisis on the Colombian local currency bonds prices: An event study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to perform an event study using high frequency data on peso-denominated Colombian government bonds to measure the effects of news during the global financial crisis (GFC). Design/methodology/approach Using standard event study methodology, the authors want to see if a surprise (originating from macroeconomic news and GFC events) has a significant effect on asset prices measurable as abnormal returns. The authors also assume that the US market acted as a transmission mechanism for the crisis in a standard market model framework and control for confounding effects from events that originated from the crisis by taking into account the effect of global, regional and local macroeconomic surprises in the period before, during and after the GFC. Findings The results show that there was resilience and decoupling of the Colombian local currency bond market from the events of the GFC. Research limitations/implications The results show that there was resilience (in terms of abnormal returns) and decoupling of the Colombian local currency bond market from the events of the GFC. The paper also finds that, on an average, Colombian bonds performed better during the period of the GFC than the period before and after the GFC. Practical implications In the event study using individual bonds the paper finds that, in most cases, negative news had a positive impact in Colombian bond prices during the GFC. Social implications These results have important policy implications in emerging markets economies in terms of the benefits of substituting foreign currency debt with local currency debt. Originality/value This paper provides a date and time-specific timeline (Table III) of the most significant GFC events and news. The paper finds that for all the periods under observation local news related to inflation had the greatest impact in bond prices. In the case of global and regional news, inflation and trade-related surprises had also significant effects on bond prices but to a lesser extent.

Bogle on Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor.

Part I: Building Blocks.The Rewards of Investing.The Risks of Investing.Mutual Funds.Part II: How to Select a Common Stock Mutual Fun.How to Select a Bond Mutual Fund.How to Select a Money Market Fund.How to Select a Balanced Mutual Fund.Where to Get Mutual Fund Information.Part III: New Perspectives on Three Key Issues.Index Funds.Mutual Fund Costs.Taxes and Mutual Funds.Part IV: Practical Application of Investment Principles.The Allocation of Investment Assets.Mutual Fund Model Portfolios.A Mandate for Fund Shareholders