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Do individual currency traders make money?

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  • Abbey, Boris S.
  • Doukas, John A.

Abstract

Using a unique online currency transactions dataset, we examine the performance, trading activity, drawdown, and timing abilities of individual currency traders. Evidence from 428 accounts during the 2004–2009 period shows that currency traders earn positive abnormal returns, even after accounting for transaction costs. Additionally, the results reveal that day traders not only trade more frequently than non-day traders, but also outperform them in terms of raw, a passive benchmark and risk-adjusted returns. Finally, sorts on trade activity, measured as the mean number of trades per day per account, and account turnover, show a positive association between performance and trade activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Abbey, Boris S. & Doukas, John A., 2015. "Do individual currency traders make money?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 158-177.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jimfin:v:56:y:2015:i:c:p:158-177
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jimonfin.2014.10.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Pojarliev, Momtchil & Levich, Richard M., 2010. "Trades of the living dead: Style differences, style persistence and performance of currency fund managers," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1752-1775, December.
    5. Momtchil Pojarliev & Richard M. Levich, 2007. "Do Professional Currency Managers Beat the Benchmark?," NBER Working Papers 13714, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bernd Hayo & Kentaro Iwatsubo, 2022. "Who Is Successful in Foreign Exchange Margin Trading? New Survey Evidence from Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Accominotti, Olivier & Chambers, David, 2016. "If You're So Smart: John Maynard Keynes and Currency Speculation in the Interwar Years," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 76(2), pages 342-386, June.
    3. Forman, John & Horton, Joanne, 2019. "Overconfidence, position size, and the link to performance," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 291-309.

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