Ease-of-Processing Heuristics and Asset Prices: Evidence From Exchange-Traded Repo Market in China
46 Pages Posted: 1 Mar 2019 Last revised: 12 Jun 2019
Date Written: May 15, 2019
Abstract
Prior to May 22, 2017, actual daily interest rates of Chinese exchange-traded repos on certain days of the week and on trading days prior to market-closed holidays exhibited remarkable seasonalities. On May 22, 2017, the exchanges changed the way in which rates were displayed such that investors need no longer infer actual repo maturities. Thereafter, the seasonalities disappeared. We interpret the seasonalities and their disappearance as being due to investors employing an ease-of-processing heuristic that was not required after May 22, 2017. An implication is that a cognitive bias on the part of investors caused the seasonalities in asset prices.
Keywords: Cognitive Biases, Asset Prices, Exchange Repo
JEL Classification: G12, G14
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
