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Margin trading and leverage management

Author

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  • Bian, Jiangze
  • Da, Zhi
  • He, Zhiguo
  • Lou, Dong
  • Shue, Kelly
  • Zhou, Hao

Abstract

We use granular data covering regulated (brokerage-financed) and unregulated (shadow-financed) margin trading during the 2015 market turmoil in China to provide the first systematic analysis of margin investors' characteristics, leverage management policies, and liquidation choices. We show that leverage constraints induced substantial forced and preemptive sales, and leverage and cash management differed substantially across investor and account types. We explore the relation between margin trading and shock propagation, and show that China's price limit rule led to unintended contagion across stocks. Compared to brokerage investors, shadow investors were closer to their leverage constraints, and played a more significant role in transmitting shocks across stocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Bian, Jiangze & Da, Zhi & He, Zhiguo & Lou, Dong & Shue, Kelly & Zhou, Hao, 2021. "Margin trading and leverage management," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118851, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:118851
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/118851/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Su, Zili, 2023. "Essays on equity incentive and share pledging in China," Other publications TiSEM fb4495ee-f9bc-45c7-9d85-1, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    3. An, Li & Lou, Dong & Shi, Donghui, 2022. "Wealth redistribution in bubbles and crashes," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 113766, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Arseny Gorbenko & Marcin Kacperczyk, 2023. "Short Interest and Aggregate Stock Returns: International Evidence," The Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 13(4), pages 691-733.
    5. Zili Su & Constantinos Alexiou, 2023. "Impact of share pledging by controlling shareholders on firm value in the context of China's tightened regulatory reforms," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S2), pages 2847-2874, June.
    6. Guo, Qi & Huang, Shao'an & Wang, Gaowang, 2024. "Stabilizing the Financial Markets through Communication and Informed Trading," MPRA Paper 120072, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    margin trading; leverage management; liquidation policy; contagion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G00 - Financial Economics - - General - - - General
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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