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The effect of language on investing: Evidence from searches in Chinese versus English

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Listed:
  • Huang, Yin-Siang
  • Chuang, Hui-Ching
  • Hasan, Iftekhar
  • Lin, Chih-Yung

Abstract

This study examines the language effect on investing behavior in local stock markets for local- and foreign-language investors using Google search records. First, we find that attention to a local language stimulates attention to a foreign language, increases abnormal news coverage, and has better predictability on stock returns. Second, investors who do Google searches in the local language react faster to a news event's shock than those who search in the foreign language. Third, only attention to the local language can reduce the price drift of an earnings surprise. Last, firm-level information asymmetry is a channel for local advantage. Therefore, we suggest that investors who use a stock market's local language have a local advantage when seeking more profitable investment opportunities in that stock market.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Yin-Siang & Chuang, Hui-Ching & Hasan, Iftekhar & Lin, Chih-Yung, 2021. "The effect of language on investing: Evidence from searches in Chinese versus English," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:67:y:2021:i:c:s0927538x21000603
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2021.101553
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Investor attention; Local advantage; Returns prediction; Earnings surprise; Information asymmetry;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G17 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Financial Forecasting and Simulation

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