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The Behavior of Investor Flows in Corporate Bond Mutual Funds

Author

Listed:
  • Yong Chen

    (Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843)

  • Nan Qin

    (Luter School of Business, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia 23606)

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive examination of money flows in corporate bond funds, which, although less researched, represent an important setting to study investor behavior. Based on a large sample of corporate bond funds over 1991–2014, we first show that flows are sensitive to both fund performance and macroeconomic conditions, but unlike equity funds, the flow–performance relationship is not convex. Then, we find that investor flows can predict fund performance. More importantly, the predictability cannot be explained by return momentum or price pressure but is subsumed by performance persistence. Finally, an examination of idiosyncratic flows reveals little evidence that fund investors use finer-than-public information.

Suggested Citation

  • Yong Chen & Nan Qin, 2017. "The Behavior of Investor Flows in Corporate Bond Mutual Funds," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(5), pages 1365-1384, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:63:y:2017:i:5:p:1365-1384
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2015.2372
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Laura Capota & Margherita Giuzio & Sujit Kapadia & Dilyara Salakhova, 2022. "Are ethical and green investment funds more resilient?," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Statistics for Sustainable Finance, volume 56, Bank for International Settlements.
    4. Thierry Roncalli & Fatma Karray-Meziou & Franc{c}ois Pan & Margaux Regnault, 2021. "Liquidity Stress Testing in Asset Management -- Part 1. Modeling the Liability Liquidity Risk," Papers 2101.02110, arXiv.org.
    5. Qin, Nan & Wang, Ying, 2021. "Does portfolio concentration affect performance? Evidence from corporate bond mutual funds," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    6. Mariassunta Giannetti & Chotibhak Jotikasthira, 2024. "Bond Price Fragility and the Structure of the Mutual Fund Industry," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 37(7), pages 2063-2109.
    7. Uddin, Gazi Salah & Arreola Hernandez, Jose & Labidi, Chiraz & Troster, Victor & Yoon, Seong-Min, 2019. "The impact of financial and economic factors on Islamic mutual fund performance: Evidence from multiple fund categories," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 52.
    8. Fulkerson, Jon A. & Riley, Timothy B., 2019. "Portfolio concentration and mutual fund performance," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1-16.
    9. Amin, Shehryar & Tédongap, Roméo, 2023. "The changing landscape of treasury auctions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    10. Koo, Minjae & Muslu, Volkan, 2023. "Fund Flows and Asset Valuations of Bond Mutual Funds: Effect of Side-by-Side Management," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    11. Banegas, Ayelen & Montes-Rojas, Gabriel & Siga, Lucas, 2022. "The effects of U.S. monetary policy shocks on mutual fund investing," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    12. Ryan, Ellen, 2022. "Are fund managers rewarded for taking cyclical risks?," Working Paper Series 2652, European Central Bank.
    13. Cici, Gjergji & Zhang, Pei (Alex), 2021. "On the valuation skills of corporate bond mutual funds," CFR Working Papers 21-05, University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR).
    14. Nan Qin & Vijay Singal, 2023. "Effect of high‐frequency trading on mutual fund performance," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 58(2), pages 369-394, May.
    15. Ryan, Ellen, 2022. "Are fund managers rewarded for taking cyclical risks?," ESRB Working Paper Series 134, European Systemic Risk Board.
    16. Kim, Donghyun & Li, Chengcheng & Wang, Xiaoqiong, 2021. "Risk-taking and performance of government bond mutual funds," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    17. Jakub Kubiczek, 2020. "Corporate Bond Market in Poland—Prospects for Development," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Andreu, Laura & Gimeno, Ruth & Ortiz, Cristina, 2022. "Diversification and manager autonomy in fund families: Implications for investors," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    19. Raphaëlle BELLANDO & Laura-Dona CAPOTA & Sébastien GALANTI, 2019. "The impact of return shocks on mutual funds’ flows: an empirical study of French bond mutual funds," LEO Working Papers / DR LEO 2730, Orleans Economics Laboratory / Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orleans (LEO), University of Orleans.

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