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Are active fund managers collectors of private information or fast interpreters of public information?

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  • David R. Gallagher
  • Adrian Looi
  • Matt Pinnuck

Abstract

Recent studies of fund manager performance find evidence of outperformance. However limited research exists as to whether such outperformance is because of privately collected information, or merely expedient interpretation of publicly released information. In this study, we examine the trade sequences of active Australian equity fund managers around earnings announcements to provide insights into the source of fund managers’ superior information. We document an increased occurrence of buy‐sell trade sequences around good‐news earnings announcements. The evidence is consistent with fund managers having both private information about forthcoming good‐news earnings announcements and being ‘short‐term profiteers’. We find no evidence that fund managers have private information about forthcoming bad‐news earnings announcements. However, we do find an increase in the frequency of fund managers not trading before bad‐news earnings announcements only to subsequently sell during announcements.

Suggested Citation

  • David R. Gallagher & Adrian Looi & Matt Pinnuck, 2010. "Are active fund managers collectors of private information or fast interpreters of public information?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 50(3), pages 635-662, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:50:y:2010:i:3:p:635-662
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-629X.2010.00341.x
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    1. Chan, Kam Fong & Marsh, Terry, 2022. "Asset pricing on earnings announcement days," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(3), pages 1022-1042.
    2. Chi Ming Ho, 2013. "Private information, overconfidence and intraday trading behaviour: empirical study of the Taiwan stock market," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 325-345, February.
    3. Zhuang, Zhuang & Hong, Xin & Yao, Juan, 2023. "The journey is the reward: A study of corporate site visits and mutual fund performance," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    4. Yanan Li & Wenjun Wang, 2022. "Company visits and mutual fund performance: new evidence on managerial skills," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(6), pages 504-521, October.
    5. Xuezhou Zhao & Libing Fang & Ke Zhang, 2022. "How Foreign Institutional Shareholders' Religious Beliefs Affect Corporate Social Performance?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(2), pages 377-401, June.
    6. Le, Anh & Yin, Xiangkang & Zhao, Jing, 2019. "Informed trading around earnings announcements in Australia," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    7. Danny Lo, 2015. "Essays in Market Microstructure and Investor Trading," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 4-2015, January-A.
    8. Angel Zhong, 2022. "Institutional trading in stock market anomalies in Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(1), pages 893-930, March.
    9. Douglas Foster, F. & Gallagher, David R. & Looi, Adrian, 2011. "Institutional trading and share returns," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 3383-3399.
    10. Danny Lo, 2015. "Essays in Market Microstructure and Investor Trading," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 22, July-Dece.

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