We study whether board structure (board size, independence and gender diversity) in banks relates to performance. Using a broad panel of large US bank holding companies over the period 1997–2011, we find that both board size and independent directors decrease bank performance. Although gender...

Using domestic consumer confidence indicators to proxy investor sentiment and data from 23 different equity markets, we document a pervasive overall sentiment effect. We further document a significant effect of global sentiment across these markets. More accessible markets have stronger global...

Using domestic consumer confidence indicators to proxy investor sentiment and data from 23 different equity markets, we document a pervasive overall sentiment effect. We further document a significant effect of global sentiment across these markets. More accessible markets have stronger global...

We examine the impact of trading costs on pairs trading profitability in the US equity market over the period 1963-2009. After controlling for commissions, market impact and short selling fees; we find that pairs trading remains profitable, albeit at much more modest levels. Specifically, we...

Despite confirming the continuing downward trend in profitability of pairs trading, this study found that the strategy performs strongly during periods of prolonged turbulence, including the recent global financial crisis. Moreover, alternative algorithms combined with other measures enhance...

Extending Shleifer and Vishny (1997), we show that arbitrageurs will strategically limit their initial investment in an arbitrage opportunity in anticipation of further mispricing caused by the deepening of noise traders' misperceptions. Such ‘noise momentum' is an important determinant of the...

Several studies explore the use of gold and other precious metals for protecting investors' wealth during periods of market turmoil. However, alternative investments, although increasing in popularity, still remain unfamiliar to the majority of investors. We explore the safe haven and hedging...

This paper investigates the birth of commodity trading advisers (CTAs) and their flow–performance relation. Specifically, we address three questions. First, we investigate the impact of existing CTAs' performance on the number of new CTAs entering the market. Second, we investigate the...

We examine whether and to what extent business shocks explain the puzzling instabilities of corporate leverage. We find that business shocks explain a large portion of the unexplained leverage deviation, cross-sectional leverage position migration, and evaporating leverage similarities in the...

Analogous to an experienced mariner choosing a safe harbour depending on the wind direction, we find that investors should choose their safe-haven asset(s) conditional on the cause of the underlying adverse event. Using oil markets as a salient case study, we find that several stock markets...