Market similarity and cross-border investment performance

Abstract

This study investigates whether similarity in national characteristics affects U.S. investors’ investment performance in foreign equity markets. The 2007–2008 financial crisis has significantly changed U.S. investors’ performance in foreign countries. Before the financial crisis, the diversification hypothesis is generally supported. During the in-crisis period, the U.S. investors perform well in segmented markets, suggesting that U.S. investors could learn from crisis-related experiences and might work harder in bad times. After the financial crisis, however, the diversification benefit of investing globally via country indices has been significantly weakened and seeking a new route has become important.