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Asymmetric Attention and Stock Returns

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  • Thomas Wu

    (UC Santa Cruz)

  • Jordi Mondria

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

We study the asset pricing implications of attention allocation theories. These theories allow us to predict the arrival of private information by observing investors' behavior. Specifically, attention allocation theories suggest that the arrival of private news to local investors lead to an increase in asymmetric attention to stocks between local and nonlocal investors. We construct a measure of asymmetric attention based on aggregate search volume in Google. We find that firms receiving an increase in asymmetric attention earn higher returns, even after controlling for size, book-to-market, momentum and liquidity factors. We find this effect to be stronger among illiquid stocks and stocks headquartered in remote locations. Our results provide direct support for attention allocation theories.

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  • Thomas Wu & Jordi Mondria, 2011. "Asymmetric Attention and Stock Returns," 2011 Meeting Papers 134, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed011:134
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    Cited by:

    1. Jordi Mondria & Thomas Wu, 2013. "Imperfect financial integration and asymmetric information: competing explanations of the home bias puzzle?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(1), pages 310-337, February.
    2. Shiu-Yik Au & Ming Dong & Andréanne Tremblay, 2024. "How Much Does Workplace Sexual Harassment Hurt Firm Value?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(4), pages 861-883, April.
    3. Jordi Mondria & Thomas Wu, 2012. "Familiarity and Surprises in International Financial Markets: Bad news travels like wildfire, good news travels slow," 2012 Meeting Papers 50, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    4. Klöckner, Maximilian & Schmidt, Christoph G. & Wagner, Stephan M. & Swink, Morgan, 2023. "Firms’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    5. Benhima, Kenza & Bolliger, Elio, 2022. "Do Local Forecasters Have Better Information?," MPRA Paper 117072, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Sep 2023.
    6. Yuan, Ying & Fan, Xiaoqian & Li, Yiou, 2022. "Do local and non-local retail investor attention impact stock returns differently?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    7. Puhr, Harald & Müllner, Jakob, 2024. "Vox populi, vox dei: A concept and measure for grassroots socio-political risk using Google Trends," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(2).
    8. Amal Aouadi & Sylvain Marsat, 2018. "Do ESG Controversies Matter for Firm Value? Evidence from International Data," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 1027-1047, September.
    9. Li, Frank Weikai & Sun, Chengzhu, 2022. "Information acquisition and expected returns: Evidence from EDGAR search traffic," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    10. Hirofumi Nishi & S. Drew Peabody, 2024. "Under the spotlight: The peer standard in CSR and the role of public attention," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(2), pages 373-390, May.
    11. David C. Ling & Chongyu Wang & Tingyu Zhou, 2022. "Asset productivity, local information diffusion, and commercial real estate returns," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 50(1), pages 89-121, March.
    12. Latoeiro, Pedro & Ramos, Sofía B. & Veiga, Helena, 2013. "Predictability of stock market activity using Google search queries," DES - Working Papers. Statistics and Econometrics. WS ws130605, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Estadística.
    13. Zhang, Zuochao & Goodell, John W. & Shen, Dehua & Lahmar, Oumaima, 2024. "Media opinion divergence and stock returns: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    14. Mondria, Jordi & Wang, Xin & Wu, Thomas, 2021. "Familiarity and Surprises in International Financial Markets: Bad news travels like wildfire; good news travels slow," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    15. Jing Wu & Yongheng Deng, 2015. "Intercity Information Diffusion and Price Discovery in Housing Markets: Evidence from Google Searches," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 50(3), pages 289-306, April.
    16. Puhr, Harald & Müllner, Jakob, 2022. "Foreign to all but fluent in many: The effect of multinationality on shock resilience," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(6).
    17. Imane El Ouadghiri & Mathieu Gomes & Jonathan Peillex & Guillaume Pijourlet, 2022. "Investor Attention to the Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement and Stock Returns," Post-Print hal-03549713, HAL.

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