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The disposition effect in boom and bust markets

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  • Bernard, Sabine
  • Loos, Benjamin
  • Weber, Martin

Abstract

The disposition effect is implicitly assumed to be constant over time. However, drivers of the disposition effect (preferences and beliefs) are rather countercyclical. We use individual investor trading data covering several boom and bust periods (2001-2015). We show that the disposition effect is countercyclical, i.e. is higher in bust than in boom periods. Our findings are driven by individuals being 25% more likely to realize gains in bust than in boom periods. These changes in investors' selling behavior can be linked to changes in investors' risk aversion and in their beliefs across financial market cycles.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernard, Sabine & Loos, Benjamin & Weber, Martin, 2021. "The disposition effect in boom and bust markets," SAFE Working Paper Series 305, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:safewp:305
    DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3779254
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    Cited by:

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    2. Riya Arora & Madhumathi Rajendran, 2023. "Moored Minds: An Experimental Insight into the Impact of the Anchoring and Disposition Effect on Portfolio Performance," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-22, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Disposition Effect; Financial Market Cycles; Household Finance; Retail Investor;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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