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Low-beta strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Korn, Olaf
  • Kuntz, Laura-Chloé

Abstract

This paper analyzes trading strategies designed to exploit the low-beta anomaly. Although the notion of buying low-beta stocks and selling high-beta stocks is natural, a choice is necessary with respect to the relative weighting of high-beta stocks and low-beta stocks in the portfolio. Our empirical results for US stocks show that this choice is very important for the risk-return characteristics of the resulting portfolios and their sensitivities to common risk factors. The weighting of stocks within the low-beta and high-beta portfolios and the chosen investment universe are essential design elements of low-beta strategies too. If smaller firms are excluded, risk-adjusted returns of low-beta strategies can even become insignificant.

Suggested Citation

  • Korn, Olaf & Kuntz, Laura-Chloé, 2017. "Low-beta strategies," CFR Working Papers 15-17 [rev.], University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR), revised 2017.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cfrwps:1517r
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/158007/1/887992064.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    low-beta anomaly; trading strategies; factor risk premiums; smart beta;
    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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