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Does short‐selling affect mutual fund shareholdings? Evidence from China

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  • Xufeng Liu
  • Die Wan

Abstract

Taking the gradual lifting of short‐sale bans in China as natural experiments, the paper shows that mutual funds reduce the number of shares in shortable stocks compared to short‐selling forbidden stocks after short‐selling reforms, and their selling is more intensive in stocks with higher valuation, larger market value, higher profitability, more media coverage or better corporate governance. These strategies are not just short‐term reactions, nor are they applied by other institutional investors. Short‐sellers process negative information to dampen overvaluation or spread pessimistic beliefs which undervalue high quality, so mutual funds’ negative reaction towards short‐selling is stronger among overvalued or high‐quality stocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Xufeng Liu & Die Wan, 2022. "Does short‐selling affect mutual fund shareholdings? Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1887-1923, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:62:y:2022:i:s1:p:1887-1923
    DOI: 10.1111/acfi.12843
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