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Overweighting of public information in financial markets: A lesson from the lab

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  • Ruiz-Buforn, Alba
  • Camacho-Cuena, Eva
  • Morone, Andrea
  • Alfarano, Simone

Abstract

We experimentally study the information aggregation process in a laboratory financial market when a public signal is released. The public disclosure crowds out information demand and reduces price informativeness. The latter effect is primarily caused by the overweighting of public information into prices. We are the first in providing evidence that strategic pricing concerns trigger the overweighting effect and the consequent market overreaction to public disclosures. From an economic policy perspective, we give support that, when deciding their communication strategy, the regulator can mitigate the market overreaction by properly setting the level of information transparency.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruiz-Buforn, Alba & Camacho-Cuena, Eva & Morone, Andrea & Alfarano, Simone, 2020. "Overweighting of public information in financial markets: A lesson from the lab," MPRA Paper 98472, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:98472
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    Cited by:

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    2. Rocco Caferra & Simone Nuzzo & Andrea Morone, 2023. "“Less is more” or “more is better”? The effect of asymmetric information distribution on market efficiency and wealth inequality," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 18(2), pages 233-250, April.
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    4. Simone Alfarano & Albert Banal-Estañol & Eva Camacho & Giulia Iori & Burcu Kapar & Rohit Rahi, 2024. "Centralized vs Decentralized Markets: The Role of Connectivity," Working Papers 1420, Barcelona School of Economics.
    5. Pignataro, Giuseppe & Raggi, Davide & Pancotto, Francesca, 2024. "On the role of fundamentals, private signals, and beauty contests to predict exchange rates," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 687-705.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Experimental asset markets; public information; information acquisition; asymmetric information;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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