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Liquidity risk and exchange-traded fund returns, variances, and tracking errors

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  • Bae, Kyounghun
  • Kim, Daejin

Abstract

We investigate the effect of exchange-traded fund (ETF) liquidity on ETF tracking errors, returns, and volatility in the US. We find that illiquid ETFs have large tracking errors. The effect is more pronounced when underlying assets are less liquid. Returns and liquidity of illiquid ETFs are more sensitive to underlying index returns or ETF market liquidity, or both. Thus, a positive liquidity premium exists in US ETF markets. The ETF variance could be larger than its net asst value variance owing to infrequent trading. In summary, illiquid ETFs are more likely to deviate from their underlying indexes and could be riskier than underlying portfolios.

Suggested Citation

  • Bae, Kyounghun & Kim, Daejin, 2020. "Liquidity risk and exchange-traded fund returns, variances, and tracking errors," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(1), pages 222-253.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:138:y:2020:i:1:p:222-253
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2019.02.012
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    4. Diana Barro & Antonella Basso & Stefania Funari & Guglielmo Alessandro Visentin, 2024. "The Effects of the Introduction of Volume-Based Liquidity Constraints in Portfolio Optimization with Alternative Investments," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-26, August.
    5. Devmali Perera & Jędrzej Białkowski & Martin T. Bohl, 2022. "Is the Tracking Error Time-Varying? Evidence from Agricultural ETCs," Working Papers in Economics 22/13, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    6. Mariano González-Sánchez & Eva M. Ibáñez Jiménez & Ana I. Segovia San Juan, 2021. "Market and Liquidity Risks Using Transaction-by-Transaction Information," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(14), pages 1-14, July.
    7. Cortes, Gustavo S. & Gao, George P. & Silva, Felipe B.G. & Song, Zhaogang, 2022. "Unconventional monetary policy and disaster risk: Evidence from the subprime and COVID–19 crises," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    8. Zhang, Pengcheng & Kong, Deli & Xu, Kunpeng & Qi, Jiayin, 2024. "Global economic policy uncertainty and the stability of cryptocurrency returns: The role of liquidity volatility," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    9. Kim, Jinhwan & Cho, Hoon & Seok, Sangik, 2023. "Liquidity risk, return performance, and tracking error: Synthetic vs. Physical ETFs," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    10. Goel, Garima & Ahluwalia, Eshan, 2021. "Do pricing efficiencies in Indian equity ETF market impact its performance?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exchange-traded funds (ETFs); Liquidity; Tracking errors; Volatility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • 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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