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The Behavior of Hedge Funds during Liquidity Crises

Author

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  • Ben-David, Itzhak

    (Ohio State University)

  • Franzoni, Francesco

    (Swiss Finance Institute and University of Lugano)

  • Moussawi, Rabih

    (University of Pennsylvania)

Abstract

We study hedge funds' trading patterns in the stock market during liquidity crises. On average at the time of a crisis, hedge funds reduce their equity holdings by 9% to 11% per quarter (around 0.3% of total market capitalization). This effect results from large selling by up to a quarter of hedge funds and is not offset by other hedge funds expanding their positions. Dramatic selloffs took place in the 2008 crisis: hedge funds sold about 30% of their stock holdings and almost every fourth hedge fund sold more than 40% of its equity portfolio. We identify two main drivers of this behavior. First, we impute about half of the variation in equity selloffs to a response to lender and investor funding withdrawals. Second, it appears that hedge funds mobilize capital to other (potentially less liquid) markets in the pursuit of more profitable investment opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben-David, Itzhak & Franzoni, Francesco & Moussawi, Rabih, 2010. "The Behavior of Hedge Funds during Liquidity Crises," Working Paper Series 2010-2, Ohio State University, Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:ohidic:2010-2
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    File URL: http://www.cob.ohio-state.edu/fin/dice/papers/2010/2010-2.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Arjen Siegmann & Denitsa Stefanova, 2011. "Market Liquidity and Exposure of Hedge Funds," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 11-150/2/DSF27, Tinbergen Institute.
    2. Cristina Cella & Andrew Ellul & Mariassunta Giannetti, 2013. "Investors' Horizons and the Amplification of Market Shocks," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 26(7), pages 1607-1648.
    3. Hodula, Martin & Janků, Jan & Malovaná, Simona & Ngo, Ngoc Anh, 2024. "Geopolitical risks and their impact on global macro-financial stability: Literature and measurements," BOFIT Discussion Papers 9/2024, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
    4. Yang CAO & Joseph P. OGDEN & Cristian I. TIU, 2011. "Who Benefits From Funds Of Hedge Funds? A Critique Of Alternative Organizational Structures In The Hedge Fund Industry (I)," Business Excellence and Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 1(1), pages 19-36, December.
    5. Petr Musílek & Tomáš Jeřábek, 2015. "Hedgeové fondy a akciové trhy [Hedge Funds and Stock Markets]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2015(1), pages 91-107.
    6. Soumaya Ben Khelifa & Dorra Mezzez Hmaied, 2016. "Do European hedge fund managers time market liquidity?," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(6), pages 393-407, October.

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