Arbitrage Asymmetry and the Idiosyncratic Volatility Puzzle
Journal of Finance, Vol 70, pp 1903-1948, 2015
Jacobs Levy Equity Management Center for Quantitative Financial Research Paper
58 Pages Posted: 2 Oct 2012 Last revised: 13 Sep 2015
There are 2 versions of this paper
Arbitrage Asymmetry and the Idiosyncratic Volatility Puzzle
Arbitrage Asymmetry and the Idiosyncratic Volatility Puzzle
Date Written: October 12, 2014
Abstract
Many investors purchase stock but are reluctant or unable to sell short. Combining this arbitrage asymmetry with the arbitrage risk represented by idiosyncratic volatility (IVOL) explains the negative relation between IVOL and average return. The IVOL-return relation is negative among overpriced stocks but positive among underpriced stocks, with mispricing determined by combining 11 return anomalies. Consistent with arbitrage asymmetry, the negative relation among overpriced stocks is stronger, especially for stocks less easily shorted, so the overall IVOL-return relation is negative. Further supporting our explanation, high investor sentiment weakens the positive relation among underpriced stocks and, especially, strengthens the negative relation among overpriced stocks.
Keywords: arbitrage risk, idiosyncratic volatility puzzle, short-sale constraints, investor sentiment
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