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Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: The Active Investment Strategies behind Index Performance

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  • Angelo Ranaldo
  • Rainer Häberle

Abstract

This paper argues that the commonly used market indices imply forms of active investment management in disguise. The selection and rebalancing rules make these indices highly exclusive and dynamic regarding their underlying components and significantly bias their performance. Any passive investment tracking these indices turns into an active strategy characterised by market timing and state‐dependent performance. Evidence is provided that exclusive indices outperform (underperform) more inclusive peer indices in upward (downward) markets. The constitution and maintenance rules of exclusive indices correspond to a set of active trading and investment rules similar to momentum strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Angelo Ranaldo & Rainer Häberle, 2008. "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: The Active Investment Strategies behind Index Performance," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 14(1), pages 55-81, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:eufman:v:14:y:2008:i:1:p:55-81
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-036X.2007.00363.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fama, Eugene F & French, Kenneth R, 1992. "The Cross-Section of Expected Stock Returns," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 47(2), pages 427-465, June.
    2. Bechmann, Ken L., 2002. "Price and Volume Effects Associated with Changes in the Danish Blue-Chip Index - The KFX Index," Working Papers 2002-2, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Finance.
    3. Newey, Whitney & West, Kenneth, 2014. "A simple, positive semi-definite, heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation consistent covariance matrix," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 33(1), pages 125-132.
    4. Narasimhan Jegadeesh & Sheridan Titman, 2001. "Profitability of Momentum Strategies: An Evaluation of Alternative Explanations," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 56(2), pages 699-720, April.
    5. Banz, Rolf W., 1981. "The relationship between return and market value of common stocks," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 3-18, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen Matteo Miller, 2012. "Booms and Busts as Exchange Options," Multinational Finance Journal, Multinational Finance Journal, vol. 16(3-4), pages 189-223, September.
    2. Ravi Kashyap, 2021. "Behavioural Bias Benefits: Beating Benchmarks By Bundling Bouncy Baskets," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(3), pages 4885-4921, September.
    3. Isaac T. Tabner, 2009. "Benchmark Concentration: Capitalization Weights Versus Equal Weights in the FTSE 100 Index," Multinational Finance Journal, Multinational Finance Journal, vol. 13(3-4), pages 209-228, September.
    4. Richard W. Kopcke & Matt Rutledge, 2004. "Stock prices and the equity premium during the recent bull and bear markets," New England Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, pages 63-85.
    5. Isaac T. Tabner, 2012. "In Defence of Capitalisation Weights: Evidence from the FTSE 100 and S&P 500 Indices," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 18(1), pages 142-161, January.
    6. Ravi Kashyap, 2021. "Behavioral Bias Benefits: Beating Benchmarks By Bundling Bouncy Baskets," Papers 2109.03740, arXiv.org.
    7. Carolina Fugazza & Massimo Guidolin & Giovanna Nicodano, 2015. "Equally Weighted vs. Long†Run Optimal Portfolios," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 21(4), pages 742-789, September.

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