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Herding where retail investors dominate trading: The case of Saudi Arabia

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  • Rahman, M. Arifur
  • Chowdhury, Shah Saeed Hassan
  • Shibley Sadique, M.

Abstract

We investigate herding in the Saudi stock market, where more than 95% of the total trading is initiated by the individual investors. Based on readily available stock data, we find evidence of pervasive herding among the market participants. Although herding is prevalent irrespective of market conditions, it tends to get stronger in periods when the market rises and the trading activity intensifies. Traders are found to be indifferent to important stock categories in their herd behavior. Further analysis suggests that the correlated behavior of Saudi traders is unlikely to be induced by the common movements in fundamentals. Considering the unique composition of the market clientele, we interpret these findings as constituting market level evidence supporting a commonly held belief in the literature that the individual investors are more likely to be noise traders.

Suggested Citation

  • Rahman, M. Arifur & Chowdhury, Shah Saeed Hassan & Shibley Sadique, M., 2015. "Herding where retail investors dominate trading: The case of Saudi Arabia," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 46-60.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:quaeco:v:57:y:2015:i:c:p:46-60
    DOI: 10.1016/j.qref.2015.01.002
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    5. Haitham Nobanee & Nejla Ould Daoud Ellili & Jaya Abraham, 2017. "Equity Concentration, Agency Costs and Performance of Non-financial Firms Listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul)," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 18(2), pages 379-387, April.
    6. Wasiuzzaman, Shaista, 2018. "Seasonality in the Saudi stock market: The Hajj effect," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 273-281.
    7. Mehmet Balcilar & Riza Demirer & Talat Ulussever, 2016. "Does speculation in the oil market drive investor herding in net exporting nations?," Working Papers 15-29, Eastern Mediterranean University, Department of Economics.
    8. Balcılar, Mehmet & Demirer, Rıza & Ulussever, Talat, 2017. "Does speculation in the oil market drive investor herding in emerging stock markets?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 50-63.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Market-wide herding; Retail investors; Dispersion of return; Dispersion of beta; Saudi stock market;
    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

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