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Informed trading, information uncertainty, and price momentum

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  • Chen, Yifan
  • Zhao, Huainan

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the effects of informed trading (PIN) and information uncertainty in determining price momentum. We find that trading strategies based on buying high-uncertainty good-news stocks and shorting high-uncertainty bad-news stocks work well when limited to high-PIN stocks, while stocks with low-PIN do not exhibit price continuations, even when the uncertainty level of those stocks is high. In contrast, momentum returns are always significant for high-PIN stocks, irrespective of information uncertainty. Overall, we show that the informed trading effect is both independent of and stronger than that of information uncertainty in determining price momentum.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Yifan & Zhao, Huainan, 2012. "Informed trading, information uncertainty, and price momentum," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 2095-2109.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:36:y:2012:i:7:p:2095-2109
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2012.03.016
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ersan, Oguz & Alıcı, Aslı, 2016. "An unbiased computation methodology for estimating the probability of informed trading (PIN)," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 74-94.
    3. Shamsoddini Mostafa & Shahiki Tash Mohammad N. & Khodadad-Kashi Farhad, 2016. "Measuring Information Asymmetry in Large Active Firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 63(3), pages 333-346, November.
    4. Fabio S. Dias & Gareth W. Peters, 2020. "A Non-parametric Test and Predictive Model for Signed Path Dependence," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 56(2), pages 461-498, August.
    5. Yan, Yuxing & Zhang, Shaojun, 2014. "Quality of PIN estimates and the PIN-return relationship," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 137-149.
    6. Yao-Tsung Wu & Chien-Hung Liu & Kuo-Hao Lin & Dun-Yao Ke, 2024. "Does media coverage matter for the performance of technical trading strategies? Evidence from Taiwan," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 23(1), pages 147-166, January.
    7. Chaonan Lin & Nien‐Tzu Yang & Robin K. Chou & Kuan‐Cheng Ko, 2022. "A timing momentum strategy," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1339-1379, April.
    8. Deb, Pragyan & Koo, Bonsoo & Liu, Zijun, 2014. "Competition, premature trading and excess volatility," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 178-193.
    9. Agudelo, Diego A. & Giraldo, Santiago & Villarraga, Edwin, 2015. "Does PIN measure information? Informed trading effects on returns and liquidity in six emerging markets," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 149-161.
    10. Fangming Xu & Huainan Zhao & Liyi Zheng, 2022. "Investment momentum: A two‐dimensional behavioural strategy," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 1191-1207, January.
    11. Jian Wang & Yanhuang Huang & Hongrui Feng & Xingjian Li & Shu Yan, 2023. "CEO incentive compensation and stock price momentum," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S1), pages 975-1028, April.
    12. Hong‐Yi Chen & Pin‐Huang Chou & Chia‐Hsun Hsieh, 2018. "Persistency of the momentum effect," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 24(5), pages 856-892, November.
    13. Zhang, Xuetong & Zhang, Weiguo, 2023. "Information asymmetry, sentiment interactions, and asset price," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    14. Ming‐Yu Liu, 2019. "Improving momentum strategies using residual returns and option‐implied information," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(4), pages 499-521, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Informed trading; Information uncertainty; Price momentum;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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