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Momentum effect in Australian equities: Revisit, armed with short-selling ban and risk factors

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  • Li, Bob
  • Stork, Thomas
  • Chai, Daniel
  • Ee, Mong Shan
  • Ang, Hong Nee

Abstract

It is well documented that past winning stocks continue to outperform past losing stocks in numerous equity markets. However, existing Australian evidence on the momentum effect is contradictory and limited, partly due to differences in empirical designs, sample periods and stock populations. We assess the momentum profitability over the most eligible stocks which are constituents of the S&P/ASX200 index. These stocks represent the principal equity investment universe for institutional investors and managed funds due to their sufficient size and liquidity which make the momentum trading strategies practical and implementable. By incorporating the short-selling ban during the global financial crisis, we find evidence of return persistence. The momentum effect is most pronounced amongst winning stocks for longer holding periods. Upon further exploration we find that neither an industry-driven momentum effect nor common risk factors can fully account for the momentum effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Bob & Stork, Thomas & Chai, Daniel & Ee, Mong Shan & Ang, Hong Nee, 2014. "Momentum effect in Australian equities: Revisit, armed with short-selling ban and risk factors," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 19-31.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:27:y:2014:i:c:p:19-31
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2014.01.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Galariotis, Emilios & Li, Bob & Chai, Daniel, 2019. "Down but not out: Plenty of returns available for shorted down stocks," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 296-306.
    2. Bradrania, Reza & Wu, Winston, 2023. "Foreign institutions, local investors and momentum trading," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 40-64.
    3. Hurst, Gareth & Docherty, Paul, 2015. "Trend salience, investor behaviours and momentum profitability," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(PB), pages 471-484.
    4. Yeng May Tan & Fan Fah Cheng, 2019. "Industry- and liquidity-based momentum in Australian equities," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 5(1), pages 1-18, December.
    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. 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.
    7. Bruce J. Vanstone & Tom Smith & Tobias Hahn, 2017. "Australian momentum: performance, capacity and the GFC effect," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(1), pages 261-287, March.
    8. Gao, Yang & Leung, Henry, 2017. "Impact of short selling restrictions on informed momentum trading: Australian evidence," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 103-115.
    9. Gao, Ya & Guo, Bin & Xiong, Xiong, 2021. "Signed momentum in the Chinese stock market," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    10. Wattanatorn, Woraphon & Padungsaksawasdi, Chaiyuth & Chunhachinda, Pornchai & Nathaphan, Sarayut, 2020. "Mutual fund liquidity timing ability in the higher moment framework," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    11. Jurdi, Doureige J., 2022. "Predicting the Australian equity risk premium," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    12. 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.
    13. Benson, Karen & Faff, Robert & Smith, Tom, 2015. "Injecting liquidity into liquidity research," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(PB), pages 533-540.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Momentum; Short-selling ban; Risk factors;
    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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