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In Search of Concepts: The Effects of Speculative Demand on Stock Returns

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  • Owain Ap Gwilym
  • Iftekhar Hasan
  • Qingwei Wang
  • Ru Xie

Abstract

Using a novel proxy of investors' speculative demand constructed from online search interest in investment concepts, we examine how speculative demand affects the returns of Chinese stocks. We find that speculative demand increases following high market returns and predicts subsequent return reversals. Moreover, the speculative demand explains more variation in subsequent returns of A shares (more populated by retail investors) than B shares (less populated by retail investors). Our findings support the recently developed attention theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Owain Ap Gwilym & Iftekhar Hasan & Qingwei Wang & Ru Xie, 2016. "In Search of Concepts: The Effects of Speculative Demand on Stock Returns," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 22(3), pages 427-449, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:eufman:v:22:y:2016:i:3:p:427-449
    DOI: 10.1111/eufm.12067
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    Cited by:

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    3. Hsieh, Shu-Fan & Chan, Chia-Ying & Wang, Ming-Chun, 2020. "Retail investor attention and herding behavior," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 109-132.
    4. Sifat, Imtiaz Mohammad & Thaker, Hassanudin Mohd Thas, 2020. "Predictive power of web search behavior in five ASEAN stock markets," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).

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