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Activist Trading Dynamics

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Abstract

Two activists with correlated private positions in a firm's stock trade sequentially before simultaneously exerting effort to determine the firm's value. A novel linear equilibrium exists in which trades have positive sensitivity to initial positions but are nonzero on average: the leader strategically moves the price to induce the follower to acquire more shares and thus add more value. We examine this equilibrium's implications for market outcomes and its connection with the prominent phenomenon of “wolf pack” activism, whereby multiple hedge funds target the same firm. We also explore the possibility of equilibria in which activists trade against their initial positions.

Suggested Citation

  • Doruk Cetemen & Gonzalo Cisternas & Aaron Kolb & S Viswanathan, 2022. "Activist Trading Dynamics," Staff Reports 1030, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fednsr:94740
    Note: Revised February 2023. Previous title: “Activist Manipulation Dynamics”
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    activism; insider trading; noisy signaling; hedge funds;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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