Signal on the Margin: Behavior of Levered Investors and Future Economic Conditions
Review of Finance
HKUST Finance Symposium 2016: Active Investing and Arbitrage Capital
75 Pages Posted: 9 Aug 2016 Last revised: 5 Feb 2020
Date Written: February 5, 2020
Abstract
Margin capacity, defined as the aggregate excess debt capacity of investors buying securities on margin, strongly predicts (a) lower S&P 500 returns, (b) lower growth in aggregate earnings, dividends, employment, and overall economic activity, (c) higher macro, financial, and policy uncertainty, (d) lower interest rates, (e) tighter lending standards by banks, and (f) lower intermediary equity capital. High margin capacity is a precursor, not a response, to borrowing and intermediary constraints and higher volatility. It typically arises when levered investors with profitable past positions limit their leverage. We interpret that it reflects informed investors' conservatism ahead of bad times.
Keywords: Margin debt, economic conditions
JEL Classification: G11, G12, G17
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation