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How Global is Your Mutual Fund? International Diversification from Multinationals

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Listed:
  • Irem Demirci
  • Miguel A. Ferreira
  • Pedro Matos
  • Clemens Sialm

Abstract

We show that mutual funds worldwide provide substantial international exposure through their domestic holdings of multinationals. An average domestic fund's international exposure increases by 32 percentage points when we consider international corporate diversification. We find that funds with higher indirect international exposure perform better in both the cross section and the time series. This outperformance is more pronounced among small fund families, and funds that invest in small stocks, growth stocks, and less developed capital markets. Our findings support the hypothesis that international diversification from multinationals reduces the transaction and information costs of investing abroad and captures fund manager skill.

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  • Irem Demirci & Miguel A. Ferreira & Pedro Matos & Clemens Sialm, 2020. "How Global is Your Mutual Fund? International Diversification from Multinationals," NBER Working Papers 27648, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27648
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    3. Likitwongkajon, Napaporn & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2024. "Foreign investments and firm risk: Evidence from Germany," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    4. Fleta-Asín, Jorge & Muñoz, Fernando, 2023. "Institutional distance and US-based international mutual funds’ financial performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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