Investor Mood Research Articles

Stock Market Returns and Suicide Rates: Evidence From the United States

I investigated whether or not social mood is associated with the financial decisions of market participants in the United States, using the monthly suicide rate to represent the degree of negative social mood in a society. From monthly suicide data collected over the period from January 1981 through to December 2012, I found that suicide rates are associated with stock market returns, in aggregate. Specifically, suicide rates predicted future stock market returns, showing contemporaneous and lagged relationships with U.S. stock market returns. Furthermore, small-cap stocks were found to be more likely to be affected by suicide rates than were large-cap stocks. Female suicide rates had a stronger effect on market returns than male suicide rates did, suggesting that this suicide effect is not induced by economic reasons but, rather, is related to emotional factors (e.g., investor mood).

Investor mood, herding and the Ramadan effect

In view of evidence linking herding and social mood, we examine whether the positive mood documented during Ramadan translates into higher herding compared to non-Ramadan days. Drawing on a sample of seven majority Muslim countries, we report significant herding during Ramadan in most of our sample markets. Additionally, we show that herding appears significantly stronger within rather than outside Ramadan for most tests whereby its significance is manifested on both Ramadan- and non-Ramadan-days. Overall, herding significance within/outside Ramadan exhibits some variation in its levels across markets in relation to variables reflective of market states, both domestically (market returns; market volume) and internationally (US market returns; US investors’ sentiment; global financial crisis) market states.

The impact of conventional and unconventional monetary policy on investor sentiment

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between monetary policy and investor sentiment across conventional and unconventional monetary policy regimes. During conventional times, we find that a surprise decrease in the fed funds rate leads to a large increase in investor sentiment. Similarly, when the fed funds rate is at its zero lower bound, research results indicate that expansionary unconventional monetary policy shocks also have a large and positive impact on investor mood. Together, our findings highlight the importance of both conventional and unconventional monetary policy in the determination of investor sentiment.

It Hurts (Stock Prices) When Your Team is about to Lose a Soccer Match *

The end result of major sporting events has been shown to affect next day stock returns through shifts in investor mood. By studying intraday data during the soccer matches that led to the elimination of France and Italy from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we test whether mood-related pricing effects already materialize as events unfold. We use data for a cross-listed firm, which allows for a straightforward identification of underpricing. During the matches, the firm’s stock is underpriced by up to 7 basis points in the country that eventually loses. The probability of underpricing increases as elimination becomes more likely.

Investor mood and the determinants of stock prices: an experimental analysis

AbstractWe examine, in a controlled experimental setting, whether changes in investor mood cause changes in the determinants of stock prices. Our results show that a deterioration in mood, reflected in the negative dimensions of mood state, increases the level of risk aversion in male, but not female, investors. We find no evidence to suggest that a change in mood impacts on investors' forecasts of future earnings or future cash flows. By establishing the causal impact of a change in mood on risk aversion, our study provides support for archival research that relates various market anomalies to investor mood.

Investor mood and demand for stocks: Evidence from popular TV series finales

In this paper I employ a novel discrete mood proxy to investigate the response of the U.S. stock market to exogenous daily variations in investor mood. Drawing upon the psychology and communication literature, which documents that the end of popular TV series causes negative emotional reactions in large numbers of television viewers, I employ major TV series finales (between 1967 and 2012) as mood-altering events. I find that an increase in the fraction of Americans watching a TV show finale on a given day is immediately followed by a decrease in U.S. stock returns. This effect is stronger in small-cap and high-volatility stocks, whose pricing is more sensitive to sentiment, and is consistent with the hypothesis that negative mood reduces the demand for risky assets.

Investor Mood, Herding and the Ramadan Effect

In view of evidence linking herding and social mood, we examine whether the positive mood documented during Ramadan translates into higher herding compared to non-Ramadan days. Drawing on a sample of seven majority Muslim countries, we report significant herding during Ramadan in most of our sample markets. Additionally, we show that herding appears significantly stronger within rather than outside Ramadan for most tests whereby its significance is manifested on both Ramadan- and non-Ramadan-days. Overall, herding significance within/outside Ramadan exhibits some variation in its levels across markets in relation to variables reflective of market states, both domestically (market returns; market volume) and internationally (US market returns; US investors’ sentiment; global financial crisis) market states.

Do Investor Preferences Drive Corporate Dividend Policy?

Abstract This research paper aims at assessing whether managers adapt their dividend policies to the changing preferences of investors, as predicted by the catering theory of dividends. To answer this question, we used an modified approach based on the method proposed by Baker and Wurgler [2004a] in their studies on dividend catering. We noted a systematic decline in percentage of companies that paid out dividends in a sample of American publicly-traded companies, excluding companies of low capitalization and low profitability. Next, we observed a parallel declining tendency in dividend premiums in our sample. The decrease in the readiness to pay out dividends among companies on the American market can be linked to the fact that investors have assigned less weight to dividends over the years, and so in turn they were less willing to reward dividend-paying companies with higher valuations. Periodic fluctuations in investor mood with regard to dividend-paying companies, and the resulting changes in their relative valuation, influence the propensity of managers to pay out dividends. We showed a statistically significant relationship between changes in dividend premiums in one year, and the proportion of companies that paid out dividends in the following year. Additionally, it looks like companies try to compensate shareholders by paying out dividends in years of worse performing market and are less likely to distribute their earnings when shareholders gain on rising stock price. We found a negative correlation between the change in proportion of companies paying out dividends and changes in the S&P500 index. However, this does not seem to reflect investor preferences and taste for dividends. We found no statistically significant correlations between the change of the dividend premium and changes in the S&P500 index and, surprisingly, we observed relatively worse valuation of dividend-paying frms in years of market downturn. In terms of originality, our work contributes to the ongoing dividend puzzle discussion in a number of ways. First, we use a sample of American companies after excluding small capitalization stocks. Second, we assume a time lag between a shift in investor preferences and a change in corporate payout policy. Finally, our studies also account for the impact of general market conditions on dividend decisions.

Weather-Induced Mood, Institutional Investors, and Stock Returns

This study shows that weather-based indicators of mood impact perceptions of mispricing and trading decisions of institutional investors. Using survey and disaggregated trade data, we show that relatively cloudier days increase perceived overpricing in individual stocks and the Dow Jones Industrial Index and increase selling propensities of institutions. We introduce stock-level measures of investor mood; investor optimism positively impacts stock returns among stocks with higher arbitrage costs, and stocks experiencing similar investor mood exhibit return comovement. These findings complement existing studies on how weather impacts stock index returns and identify another channel through which it can manifest.

It Hurts (Stock Prices) When Your Team is About to Lose a Soccer Match

The end result of major sporting events has been shown to affect next-day stock returns through shifts in investor mood. By studying the soccer matches that led to the elimination of France and Italy from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we show that mood-related pricing effects can materialize as sporting events unfold. We do this by using intra-day stock prices for a firm cross-listed on the Paris and Milan stock exchange. This strategy allows for a straightforward identification of pricing effects. During the soccer matches, stock prices in the country that eventually loses are lower by up to seven basis points. The probability of underpricing increases as elimination from the tournament becomes more likely.

The Impact of Monetary Policy on Investor Sentiment

This paper examines the relationship between monetary policy and investor sentiment across conventional and unconventional monetary policy regimes. During conventional times, we find that a surprise increase in the fed funds rate leads to a large drop in investor sentiment that reverses after several months. Similarly, when the fed funds rate is at its zero lower bound, research results indicate that contractionary unconventional monetary policy shocks also have a large and adverse impact on investor mood. Together, our findings highlight the importance of both conventional and unconventional monetary policy in the determination of investor sentiment.

Do Investor Preferences Drive Corporate Dividend Policy?

This paper investigates whether managers adapt their dividend policies to the changing preferences of investors, as predicted by the catering theory of dividends. First, we noted a systematic decline in companies that paid out dividends in a sample of 2226 American publicly-traded companies, not including companies of low capitalization and low profitability. Next, we observed a parallel declining tendency in dividend premiums in the studied sample. The decrease in the tendency to pay out dividends among companies on the American market can be linked to the fact that investors have assigned less weight to dividends over the years, and so in turn they were less willing to reward dividend-paying companies with higher valuations. Periodic fluctuations in investor mood with regard to dividend-paying companies, and the resulting changes in their relative valuation, influence the tendency of managers to pay out dividends. We showed a statistically significant relationship between changes in dividend premiums in one year, and the proportion of companies that paid out dividends in the following year. Additionally, it looks like companies try to compensate shareholders by paying out dividends in years of worse performing market and are less likely to distribute their earnings when shareholders gain on rising stock price. We found a negative correlation between the change in proportion of companies paying out dividends and changes in the S&P500 index. However, this does not seem to reflect investor preferences and taste for dividends. We found no statistically significant correlations between the change of the dividend premium and changes in the S&P500 index and, surprisingly, we observed relatively worse valuation of dividend-paying firms in years of market downturn.

March Madness and Investor Mood

We examine the relationship between NCAA basketball end-of-season tournament (“March Madness”) results and stock returns of firms located in the vicinity of competing teams’ campuses. We find that stocks of firms located around expected winners (higher ranked teams) perform poorly if the team unexpectedly loses. For example, an upset loss leads to abnormal stock returns of -41 basis points. The decline following all basketball losses is also significant but investors punish unexpected losses more. These results, associated with upsets persist and intensify with riskier stocks, more important games and closer distance. The returns around winning universities are found to be less significant.

March Madness and Investor Mood

March Madness and Investor Mood

Investor sentiment and market reaction: evidence on 2010 FIFA World Cup

The purpose of this study is to examine whether investor sentiment influences the stock price reaction to football matches results, giving some contribute to the behaviour finance, or if investors react in a rational way, giving evidence of standard finance. To proxy for investor sentiment, we analyse the 2010 FIFA World Cup of South Africa. Globally, the study provides no evidence of a direct relationship between games results and the subsequent market reaction, not documenting a change in investor mood caused by soccer games outcomes. This paper contributes to the recent literature on the asset pricing impact of behaviour biases. The global results are more in line with standard finance than on behaviour finance, suggesting that stock prices are not influenced by economically-neutral events that can affect the investor sentiment, and, consequently, the stock prices.

Does the weather have impacts on returns and trading activities in order-driven stock markets? Evidence from China

Abstract We study the association between weather-related mood factors and stock index returns in an order-driven market, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) of China. Our results indicate that asset returns are unaffected by changes in mood introduced by factors including the weather and the onset and recovery from SAD. In contrast, many of these variables are strongly correlated with a reduction in market turnover and liquidity, consistent with investor mood driving variations in market activity. Overall, we show that in an order-driven market, environmental impacts on sentiment are likely to affect trading activities, but not returns.

Asset Price Effects Arising from Sports Results and Investor Mood: The Case of a Homogenous Fan Base Area

Published in Applied Economics Quarterly, 2011, Vol. 57, Issue 4, 285-303. Abstract: This paper contributes to the behavioural finance literature that examines the asset pricing impact of mood altering events such as sports results, sunshine levels, daylight hours, public holidays, temperature etc. Specifically, we investigate whether variations in investor mood arising from wins and losses in major sporting events have an impact on stock market returns. We examine the case of Ireland. Ireland is an interesting case because its people are passionate about sport, the domestic population is relatively homogenous (rather than divided) in terms of support for Irish competitors in international competition and domestic investors comprise a large proportion of owners of Irish stocks - all factors which suggest that if a mood effect exists it should show up in this case. Generally, we do not find a strong link between sport results and stock market returns. Initial results do suggest that in events of particularly high importance, such as the knock-out stages of major competitions, losses are associated with negative returns. However, on controlling for indirect economic effects of sporting wins and losses such as on tourism and travel we find the mood effect is no longer significant.

Investor sentiment and calendar anomaly effects: A case study of the impact of Ramadan on Islamic Middle Eastern markets

The holy month of Ramadan is usually a time of celebration and renewal in Muslim countries. This paper examines whether or not this is reflected in positive calendar anomalies effects in Islamic Middle Eastern stock markets during the period 1992–2007. Strong evidence is found of significant and positive calendar effects in respect to the whole period of Ramadan in most countries and it is argued that this can be attributed to the generally positive investor mood, or sentiment. Although Ramadan is a time of celebration for Muslims it also can be a time of uncertainty and this appears to result in the impact of the festival not being uniformly positive throughout Ramadan. It is found that market returns in the first and last days of Ramadan show high levels of statistically significant year-on-year variation. It is argued that this can possibly be attributed to synchronization-related herding effects amplifying the impact of the mood swings associated with this period. The paper also finds that although the overall Ramadan effect is both positive and statistically significant for most countries, the associated gains were only large enough to outweigh transactions costs and provide the basis of a profitable trading strategy in one market.

Does Investor Mood Really Affect Stock Prices? An Experimental Analysis

Does Investor Mood Really Affect Stock Prices? An Experimental Analysis

Does Mood Affect Trading Behavior?

We test whether investor mood affects trading with data on all stock market transactions in Finland, utilizing variation in daylight and local weather. We find some evidence that environmental mood variables (local weather, length of day, daylight saving and lunar phase) affect investors' direction of trade and volume. The effect magnitudes are roughly comparable to those of classical seasonals, such as the Monday effect. The statistical significance of the mood variables is weak in many cases, however. Only very little of the day-to-day variation in trading is collectively explained by all mood variables and calendar effects, but lower frequency variation seems connected to holiday seasons.