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The economic significance of trading based on the size effect in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Jenni L Bettman

    (School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Applied Statistics, Research School of Business, Australian National University, Australia, jenni.bettman@anu.edu.au)

  • Wen Sern Kelvin Ng

    (School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Applied Statistics, Research School of Business, Australian National University, Australia)

  • Stephen J Sault

    (School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Applied Statistics, Research School of Business, Australian National University, Australia)

Abstract

It is generally accepted within the extant literature that a size effect exists, whereby smaller firms tend to experience higher rates of return than those of large firms. This small size effect is identified in a number of studies over a variety of equity markets. Despite this, however, no study to date considers the dollar profits attainable by executing a trading strategy that constructs a portfolio based on stocks within the lowest market capitalization decile. Specifically, this paper seeks to identify the existence of a size effect in Australia, but, moreover, attempts to ascertain if a dollar profit can be obtained from executing a trading strategy based on small market capitalization stocks. In doing this, we consider all stocks listed on the Australian stock exchange, and use volume and bid-ask prices to account for liquidity and transactions costs, respectively. Overall, our regression analysis confirms the existence of a size effect within the Australian equity market. However, in executing a trading strategy based on stocks with low market capitalization, we find that after accounting for liquidity and transaction costs the profits obtainable are extremely small and statistically insignificant. This suggests that while the firm size effect exists, the illiquidity and relatively large transaction costs of small stocks eliminate the potential for economic profits.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenni L Bettman & Wen Sern Kelvin Ng & Stephen J Sault, 2011. "The economic significance of trading based on the size effect in Australia," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 36(1), pages 59-73, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:36:y:2011:i:1:p:59-73
    DOI: 10.1177/0312896210388860
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Linnenluecke, Martina K. & Chen, Xiaoyan & Ling, Xin & Smith, Tom & Zhu, Yushu, 2016. "Emerging trends in Asia-Pacific finance research: A review of recent influential publications and a research agenda," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 66-76.
    2. Paul Docherty & Howard Chan & Steve Easton, 2013. "Australian evidence on the implementation of the size and value premia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 53(2), pages 367-391, June.
    3. Danny Yeung, 2012. "The Impact of Institutional Ownership: A Study of the Australian Equity Market," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 11, July-Dece.

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