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Is Proprietary Trading Detrimental to Retail Investors?

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  • FALKO FECHT
  • ANDREAS HACKETHAL
  • YIGITCAN KARABULUT

Abstract

We study the conflict of interest that arises when a universal bank conducts proprietary trading alongside its retail banking services. Our data set contains the stock holdings of every German bank and those of their corresponding retail clients. We investigate (i) whether banks sell stocks from their proprietary portfolios to their retail customers, (ii) whether those stocks subsequently underperform, and (iii) whether retail customers of banks engaging in proprietary trading earn lower portfolio returns than their peers. We present affirmative evidence for all three questions and conclude that proprietary trading can, in fact, be detrimental to retail investors.

Suggested Citation

  • Falko Fecht & Andreas Hackethal & Yigitcan Karabulut, 2018. "Is Proprietary Trading Detrimental to Retail Investors?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 73(3), pages 1323-1361, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:73:y:2018:i:3:p:1323-1361
    DOI: 10.1111/jofi.12609
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    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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