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Do Psychological Barriers Exist in the Stock Price Indices? Evidence from Asia's Emerging Markets

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  • Seungwook Bahng

Abstract

This paper tests whether psychological barriers exist in the price levels of stock indices. Using the data from Asia's emerging markets and statistical methods, this study analyzes barrier effects around psychologically important reference levels. The results indicated the existence of a price barrier in the Taiwanese stock index. Other markets, however, do not seem to possess the effect of a selected reference point. The case of Taiwan is interpreted as evidence of a violation of market efficiency in the sense that the resulting distribution of random price level occurrences would be close to a uniform distribution in efficient markets. This research contributed to behavioral corporate finance by applying investor psychology and its effects on stock price levels.

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  • Seungwook Bahng, 2003. "Do Psychological Barriers Exist in the Stock Price Indices? Evidence from Asia's Emerging Markets," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 6(1), pages 35-52, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:intare:v:6:y:2003:i:1:p:35-52
    DOI: 10.1177/223386590300600103
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Júlio Lobão & Natércia Fortuna & Franklin Silva, 2020. "Do psychological barriers exist in Latin American stock markets?," Revista de Analisis Economico – Economic Analysis Review, Universidad Alberto Hurtado/School of Economics and Business, vol. 35(2), pages 29-56, October.
    2. Woodhouse, Sam Alan & Singh, Harminder & Bhattacharya, Sukanto & Kumar, Kuldeep, 2016. "Invisible walls: Do psychological barriers really exist in stock index levels?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 267-278.
    3. Li, Dan & Liu, Lixin & Xu, Guangli, 2023. "Psychological barriers and option pricing in a local volatility model," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. J˙lio Lob„o & Margarida Couto, 2019. "Are there Psychological Barriers in Asian Stock Markets?," Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance (AAMJAF), Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, vol. 15(1), pages 83-106.
    5. Shiyu Song & Yongjin Wang, 2017. "Pricing double barrier options under a volatility regime-switching model with psychological barriers," Review of Derivatives Research, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 255-280, October.

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