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Momentum strategies with stock index exchange-traded funds

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  • Tse, Yiuman

Abstract

Previously reported momentum profits may not be available to individual investors who have more trading constraints. Therefore, I examine the profitability of momentum strategies with international iShares and US sector exchange-traded funds (ETFs) traded on the NYSE. The index ETFs provide individual investors easy access to international stock markets and US sectors for asset allocations. Using cross-sectional momentum strategies, in contrast to prior research, I find that momentum profits are insignificant for the late 1990s–2014 period. Few country and industry ETFs yield positive results using time series momentum, and the overall performance is worse than the buy-and-hold strategy. Time series momentum offers significant profits during the 2008 global financial crisis, but the profits decline sharply for the post-crisis period.

Suggested Citation

  • Tse, Yiuman, 2015. "Momentum strategies with stock index exchange-traded funds," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 134-148.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:33:y:2015:i:c:p:134-148
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2015.04.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Peltomäki, Jarkko, 2017. "Beta as a determinant of investor activity in sector exchange-traded funds," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 137-145.
    3. Somya Tyagi & Sikandar Siddiqui, 2017. "Yield Curve and Momentum Effects in Monthly U.S. Equity Returns: Some Nonparametric Evidence," Asian Journal of Economics and Empirical Research, Asian Online Journal Publishing Group, vol. 4(2), pages 61-67.
    4. Chen, Mei-Ping & Lee, Chien-Chiang & Hsu, Yi-Chung, 2017. "Investor sentiment and country exchange traded funds: Does economic freedom matter?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 285-299.
    5. Bob Li & Mong Shan Ee & Mamunur Rashid, 2016. "Is momentum trading profitable from Shari'ah compliant stocks?," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 56-63, November.
    6. Seungho Baek & Kwan Yong Lee & Merih Uctum & Seok Hee Oh, 2020. "Robo-Advisors: Machine Learning in Trend-Following ETF Investments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-15, August.
    7. Flögel, Volker & Schlag, Christian & Zunft, Claudia, 2022. "Momentum-Managed Equity Factors," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    8. Flögel, Volker & Schlag, Christian & Zunft, Claudia, 2021. "Momentum-managed equity factors," SAFE Working Paper Series 317, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    9. Fang, Yi & Post, Thierry, 2022. "Optimal portfolio choice for higher-order risk averters," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    10. Bruce Vanstone & Tobias Hahn & Dean Earea, 2021. "Industry momentum: an exchange‐traded funds approach," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(3), pages 4007-4024, September.
    11. Zaremba, Adam & Andreu, Laura, 2018. "Paper profits or real money? Trading costs and stock market anomalies in country ETFs," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 181-192.
    12. Li, Bob & Ee, Mong Shan & Rashid, Mamunur, 2016. "Is momentum trading profitable from Shari'ah compliant stocks?," Review of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 56-63.
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