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Investor attention and short-term return reversals

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  • Heyman, Dries
  • Lescrauwaet, Michiel
  • Stieperaere, Hannes

Abstract

The Google Search Volume Index is proposed as a novel and improved proxy for overreaction as selling winner stocks after they enjoyed a substantial surge in search volume is found to be profitable. It increases the gains of a standard reversal strategy, net of transaction costs, from 17.5 basis points to 34.2 basis points on a weekly basis, corresponding to a 9.1% increase on an annual basis. Furthermore, we report significant alphas in Fama–French-type regressions. The results suggest that most of the reversal profits are made in volatile times, which are typically periods when overreaction is most likely.

Suggested Citation

  • Heyman, Dries & Lescrauwaet, Michiel & Stieperaere, Hannes, 2019. "Investor attention and short-term return reversals," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 1-6.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:29:y:2019:i:c:p:1-6
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2019.03.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Smales, L.A., 2021. "Investor attention and global market returns during the COVID-19 crisis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    3. Chundakkadan, Radeef & Nedumparambil, Elizabeth, 2022. "In search of COVID-19 and stock market behavior," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    4. Wu, Chunying & Xiong, Xiong & Gao, Ya & Zhang, Jin, 2022. "Does social media distort price discovery? Evidence from rumor clarifications," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    5. Desagre, Christophe & D’Hondt, Catherine, 2021. "Googlization and retail trading activity," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    6. Wang, Jun & Song, Xiuna, 2022. "The effect of limited attention and risk attitude on left-tail reversal: Empirical results from a-share data in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PA).
    7. Nguyen, Anh Duy, 2020. "Alternative reversal variable," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).
    8. Emre Cevik & Buket Kirci Altinkeski & Emrah Ismail Cevik & Sel Dibooglu, 2022. "Investor sentiments and stock markets during the COVID-19 pandemic," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-34, December.
    9. Chen, Rongda & Qian, Qian & Jin, Chenglu & Xu, Min & Song, Qiping, 2020. "Investor attention on internet financial markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    10. Cheraghali, Hamid & Høydal, Hannah & Lysebo, Caroline & Molnár, Peter, 2023. "Consumer attention and company performance: Evidence from luxury companies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).
    11. Borgards, Oliver & Czudaj, Robert L. & Hoang, Thi Hong Van, 2021. "Price overreactions in the commodity futures market: An intraday analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic impact," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    12. Arun Narayanasamy & Humnath Panta & Rohit Agarwal, 2023. "Relations among Bitcoin Futures, Bitcoin Spot, Investor Attention, and Sentiment," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-24, November.
    13. Christophe Desagre & Catherine D'Hondt, 2020. "Googlization and retail investors' trading activity," LIDAM Discussion Papers LFIN 2020004, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Finance (LFIN).
    14. Zhou, Wei & Gu, Ruitao & Lu, Shuai, 2020. "Penetrating the real performance of SSE STAR enterprises: A double-market investigation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    15. Anh Duy Nguyen, 2020. "Alternative reversal variable," Post-Print hal-02388743, HAL.
    16. Gao, Yang & Zhao, Chengjie & Wang, Yaojun, 2024. "Investor sentiment and stock returns: New evidence from Chinese carbon-neutral stock markets based on multi-source data," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 438-450.
    17. Lin, Boqiang & Wei, Kai, 2024. "Does investor attitude toward carbon neutrality affect stock returns in China?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    18. Anh Duy Nguyen, 2019. "Alternative reversal variable," Working Papers hal-02388743, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Price reversals; Investor attention; Investor overreaction; Google trends;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G02 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Behavioral Finance: Underlying Principles
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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