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Innovation and Informed Trading: Evidence from Industry ETFs
[Short interest, institutional ownership, and stock returns]

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Listed:
  • Shiyang Huang
  • Maureen O’Hara
  • Zhuo Zhong

Abstract

We empirically examine the impact of industry exchange-traded funds (IETFs) on informed trading and market efficiency. We find that IETF short interest spikes simultaneously with hedge fund holdings on the member stock before positive earnings surprises, reflecting long-the-stock/short-the-ETF activity. This pattern is stronger among stocks with high industry risk exposure. A difference-in-difference analysis on the ETF inception event shows that IETFs reduce post-earnings-announcement drift more among stocks with high industry risk exposure, suggesting that IETFs improve market efficiency. We also find that the short interest ratio of IETFs positively predicts IETF returns, consistent with the hedging role of IETFs.

Suggested Citation

  • Shiyang Huang & Maureen O’Hara & Zhuo Zhong, 2021. "Innovation and Informed Trading: Evidence from Industry ETFs [Short interest, institutional ownership, and stock returns]," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 34(3), pages 1280-1316.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:34:y:2021:i:3:p:1280-1316.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rfs/hhaa077
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    6. Chiu, Junmao & Lien, Donald & Tsai, Wei-Che, 2023. "Global financial crisis, funding constraints, and liquidity of VIX futures," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    7. An, Yu & Benetton, Matteo & Song, Yang, 2023. "Index providers: Whales behind the scenes of ETFs," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(3), pages 407-433.
    8. Duffy, John & Friedman, Dan & Rabanal, Jean Paul & Rud, Olga, 2022. "The impact of ETF index inclusion on stock prices," UiS Working Papers in Economics and Finance 2022/2, University of Stavanger.
    9. Wu, Weili & Zhu, Feifei, 2023. "ETF ownership and informational efficiency of underlying stocks: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    10. Li, Li & Huang, Shiyang & Lou, Dong & Shi, Jiahong, 2021. "Why don't most mutual funds short sell?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118854, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Hsiu‐Lang Chen, 2024. "Active mutual funds and their passive ETF investments," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 47(2), pages 367-399, June.
    12. Chinco, Alex & Sammon, Marco, 2024. "The passive ownership share is double what you think it is," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    13. Bohl, Martin T. & Irwin, Scott H. & Pütz, Alexander & Sulewski, Christoph, 2023. "The impact of financialization on the efficiency of commodity futures markets," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    14. Duffy, John & Rabanal, Jean Paul & Rud, Olga A., 2021. "The impact of ETFs in secondary asset markets: Experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 674-696.
    15. Zhou, Dong-hai & Liu, Xiao-xing, 2024. "Does systemic risk in the fund markets predict future economic downturns?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    16. Atilgan, Yigit & Demirtas, K. Ozgur & Gunaydin, A. Doruk & Oztekin, Mustafa, 2024. "Performance implications of hedging with industry ETFs," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    17. In Ji Jang & Namho Kang, 2024. "ETF and corporate reporting," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(2), pages 293-323, May.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • 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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