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Overconfidence Among Professional Investors: Evidence from Mutual Fund Managers

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  • Alexander Puetz
  • Stefan Ruenzi

Abstract

We examine overconfidence among equity mutual fund managers. While overconfidence has been extensively documented among retail investors, evidence from professional investors is scarce. Consistent with theories of overconfidence, we find that fund managers trade more after good past performance. The higher trading activity after good performance is driven by individual portfolio performance, while the market performance has no significant impact. We rule out some alternative explanations for our results like increased trading as a response to tournament incentives, as a response to inflows, or as a rational reaction due to managerial learning about abilities.
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  • Alexander Puetz & Stefan Ruenzi, 2011. "Overconfidence Among Professional Investors: Evidence from Mutual Fund Managers," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5-6), pages 684-712, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jbfnac:v:38:y:2011:i:5-6:p:684-712
    DOI: j.1468-5957.2010.02237.x
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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