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Trading out of sight: An analysis of cross-trading in mutual fund families

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  • Eisele, Alexander
  • Nefedova, Tamara
  • Parise, Gianpaolo
  • Peijnenburg, Kim

Abstract

This paper explores how mutual fund groups set the price of in-house transactions among affiliated funds. We collect a data set of four million equity transactions and compare the pricing of trades crossed internally (cross-trades) with that of twin trades executed with external counterparties. While cross-trades should reduce transaction costs for both trading parties, we find that the price of cross-trades is set strategically to reallocate performance among sibling funds. Furthermore, we provide evidence that a large number of cross-trades are backdated. We discuss the implications for the literature on fund performance and the current regulatory debate.

Suggested Citation

  • Eisele, Alexander & Nefedova, Tamara & Parise, Gianpaolo & Peijnenburg, Kim, 2020. "Trading out of sight: An analysis of cross-trading in mutual fund families," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(2), pages 359-378.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:135:y:2020:i:2:p:359-378
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2018.12.005
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    Cited by:

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    4. Hu, Gang & Jo, Koren M. & Wang, Yi Alex & Xie, Jing, 2018. "Institutional trading and Abel Noser data," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 143-167.
    5. Goncalves-Pinto, Luis & Sotes-Paladino, Juan & Xu, Jing, 2018. "The invisible hand of internal markets in mutual fund families," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 105-124.
    6. Pratobevera, Giuseppe, 2024. "Bank-affiliated institutional investors and IPO syndicates formation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mutual fund families; Cross-trades; Monitoring; Backdating; Transfer pricing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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