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Do individual currency traders make money?

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  • Abbey, Boris S.
  • Doukas, John A.

Abstract

Using a unique online currency transactions dataset, we examine the performance, trading activity, drawdown, and timing abilities of individual currency traders. Evidence from 428 accounts during the 2004–2009 period shows that currency traders earn positive abnormal returns, even after accounting for transaction costs. Additionally, the results reveal that day traders not only trade more frequently than non-day traders, but also outperform them in terms of raw, a passive benchmark and risk-adjusted returns. Finally, sorts on trade activity, measured as the mean number of trades per day per account, and account turnover, show a positive association between performance and trade activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Abbey, Boris S. & Doukas, John A., 2015. "Do individual currency traders make money?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 158-177.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jimfin:v:56:y:2015:i:c:p:158-177
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jimonfin.2014.10.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gervais, Simon & Odean, Terrance, 2001. "Learning to be Overconfident," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 14(1), pages 1-27.
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    4. Momtchil Pojarliev & Richard M. Levich, 2007. "Do Professional Currency Managers Beat the Benchmark?," NBER Working Papers 13714, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Neely, Christopher J. & Weller, Paul A. & Ulrich, Joshua M., 2009. "The Adaptive Markets Hypothesis: Evidence from the Foreign Exchange Market," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 44(2), pages 467-488, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bernd Hayo & Kentaro Iwatsubo, 2022. "Who Is Successful in Foreign Exchange Margin Trading? New Survey Evidence from Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Accominotti, Olivier & Chambers, David, 2016. "If You're So Smart: John Maynard Keynes and Currency Speculation in the Interwar Years," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 76(2), pages 342-386, June.
    3. Forman, John & Horton, Joanne, 2019. "Overconfidence, position size, and the link to performance," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 291-309.

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