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ETF arbitrage under liquidity mismatch

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  • Pan, Kevin
  • Zeng, Yao

Abstract

A natural liquidity mismatch emerges when liquid exchange traded funds (ETFs) hold relatively illiquid assets. We provide a theory and empirical evidence showing that this liquidity mismatch can reduce market efficiency and increase the fragility of these ETFs. We focus on corporate bond ETFs and examine the role of authorized participants (APs) in ETF arbitrage. In addition to their role as dealers in the underlying bond market, APs also play a unique role in arbitrage between the bond and ETF markets since they are the only market participants that can trade directly with ETF issuers. Using novel and granular AP-level data, we identify a conflict between APs’ dual roles as bond dealers and as ETF arbitrageurs. When this conflict is small, liquidity mismatch reduces the arbitrage capacity of ETFs; as the conflict increases, an inventory management motive arises that may even distort ETF arbitrage, leading to large relative mispricing. These findings suggest an important risk in ETF arbitrage. JEL Classification: G12, G14, G23

Suggested Citation

  • Pan, Kevin & Zeng, Yao, 2017. "ETF arbitrage under liquidity mismatch," ESRB Working Paper Series 59, European Systemic Risk Board.
    • Handle: RePEc:srk:srkwps:201759
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    File URL: https://www.esrb.europa.eu//pub/pdf/wp/esrb.wp59.en.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Agarwal, Vikas & Hanouna, Paul & Moussawi, Rabih & Stahel, Christof W., 2021. "Do ETFs increase the commonality in liquidity of underlying stocks?," CFR Working Papers 21-04, University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR).
    2. Aquilina, Matteo & Croxson, Karen & Valentini, Gian Giacomo & Sun, Zhuowei, 2023. "Authorised participants as shock absorbers in fixed-income ETFs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    3. Aquilina, Matteo & Croxson, Karen & Valentini, Gian Giacomo & Vass, Lachlan, 2020. "Fixed income ETFs: Primary market participation and resilience of liquidity during periods of stress," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    4. Huyen Phuong Do & Bich Ngoc Do & Tra My Nguyen & Thinh Vu Duy, 2021. "Arbitrage with Exchange-traded Funds: A Case of E1VFVN30 Based on Intraday Data," Economic Research Guardian, Mutascu Publishing, vol. 11(1), pages 130-143, June.
    5. Luca J. Liebi, 2020. "The effect of ETFs on financial markets: a literature review," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 34(2), pages 165-178, June.
    6. Bhojraj, Sanjeev & Mohanram, Partha & Zhang, Suning, 2020. "ETFs and information transfer across firms," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(2).
    7. Joey W. Yang & Lewis May & John Gould, 2023. "Exchange‐traded fund ownership and underlying stock mispricing," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S1), pages 1417-1445, April.
    8. Baumann, Michael Heinrich & Herz, Bernhard & Baumann, Michaela, 2018. "Exchange-traded Funds, Investment Strategies, and Financial Stability," VfS Annual Conference 2018 (Freiburg, Breisgau): Digital Economy 181542, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    9. Pagano, Marco & Sánchez Serrano, Antonio & Zechner, Jozef, 2019. "Can ETFs contribute to systemic risk?," Report of the Advisory Scientific Committee 9, European Systemic Risk Board.
    10. Chen, Guanhua & Liu, Xiangli & Liu, Xiao & Zhao, Zhihua, 2024. "ETF ownership and stock pricing efficiency: The role of ETF arbitrage," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    arbitrage; authorized participants; corporate bond; exchange-traded funds; liquidity mismatch;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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