How to prevent runs on open-end mutual funds? In recent years, markets have observed an innovation that changed the way open-end funds are priced. Alternative pricing rules (known as swing pricing) adjust funds’ net asset values to pass on funds’ trading costs to transacting shareholders. Using unique data on investor transactions in U.K. corporate bond funds, we show that swing pricing eliminates the first-mover advantage arising from the traditional pricing rule and significantly reduces redemptions during stress periods. The positive impact of alternative pricing rules on fund flows reverses in calm periods when costs associated with higher tracking error dominate the pricing effect.
The importance of mutual funds for individual investors has increased in recent decades. This becomes apparent when looking at the increased share of households owning mutual funds. These mutual fund investors usually want to receive a return which is above or at least close to the mutual fund’s benchmark. Consequently, investors want to invest in those funds which will show these patterns in the future. Some of these mutual funds receive much attention, since they generate extraordinary high performance. But the question that remains is whether it is possible to predict such performance before funds exhibit such outstanding performance. In the past, mutual fund investors focused extensively on performance or performance linked patterns, like the Morningstar star rating, and thus chased past performance. This seems surprising since performance persists only over a short time and is more persistent to weak mutual funds (1 and 2 star rated) than well performing mutual funds. Thus, chasing past performances seems to be a rather inferior strategy. Therefore, investors should try to identify alternative tools showing a high correlation to future mutual fund performance. In this book, mutual funds are analysed, especially open-end mutual funds and actively managed mutual funds. The main focus is on what purpose and usefulness active investments have and whether performance is persistent and what the determinants of mutual fund flows are. Moreover, some alternative measures will be introduced by explaining which attributes or methods should be used and avoided when selecting mutual funds.
An authoritative, must-read guide to making more informed decisions about mutual funds Providing a balance of theory and application, this authoritative book will enable you to evaluate the various performance and risk attributes of mutual funds. It covers a broad range of topics, including understanding the advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds, evaluating stock/bond allocations within fund portfolios, assessing fund diversification risk, measuring fund returns and risk, and making fund buy/sell decisions. While informative chapters combine clear summaries of existing research with practical guidelines for mutual fund analysis, step-by-step decision checklists guide you through the selection of various mutual funds. Puts the risks and rewards of mutual fund investing in perspective Skillfully examines how to select and evaluate the best mutual funds Outlines mutual fund service advantages and disadvantages Discusses the long- and short-term effectiveness of mutual funds Covering major theoretical and management issues in mutual fund analysis and portfolio management, this book is an authoritative guide.
WINNER, Business: Personal Finance/Investing, 2015 USA Best Book Awards FINALIST, Business: Reference, 2015 USA Best Book Awards Investor Behavior provides readers with a comprehensive understanding and the latest research in the area of behavioral finance and investor decision making. Blending contributions from noted academics and experienced practitioners, this 30-chapter book will provide investment professionals with insights on how to understand and manage client behavior; a framework for interpreting financial market activity; and an in-depth understanding of this important new field of investment research. The book should also be of interest to academics, investors, and students. The book will cover the major principles of investor psychology, including heuristics, bounded rationality, regret theory, mental accounting, framing, prospect theory, and loss aversion. Specific sections of the book will delve into the role of personality traits, financial therapy, retirement planning, financial coaching, and emotions in investment decisions. Other topics covered include risk perception and tolerance, asset allocation decisions under inertia and inattention bias; evidenced based financial planning, motivation and satisfaction, behavioral investment management, and neurofinance. Contributions will delve into the behavioral underpinnings of various trading and investment topics including trader psychology, stock momentum, earnings surprises, and anomalies. The final chapters of the book examine new research on socially responsible investing, mutual funds, and real estate investing from a behavioral perspective. Empirical evidence and current literature about each type of investment issue are featured. Cited research studies are presented in a straightforward manner focusing on the comprehension of study findings, rather than on the details of mathematical frameworks.
"Fundamentals of Mutual Funds" offers a thorough exploration of the principles, operations, and strategies that define the mutual fund industry, with a focused examination of the Indian context. This book is an essential resource for students, finance professionals, individual investors, and educators alike, providing both foundational knowledge and practical insights into the complexity of mutual fund management. Exploring the evolution and current state of mutual funds, this book covers key topics such as investment objectives, fund types, regulatory frameworks, and performance evaluation. It explains complex concepts with clarity, supported by real-world examples and case studies that illustrate best practices and common pitfalls in mutual fund investing.
