Aggressive Short Selling and Price Reversals
46 Pages Posted: 21 Mar 2007 Last revised: 15 May 2009
Date Written: March 1, 2008
Abstract
We show that short selling may, occasionally, cause excessive price pressure. We study large negative price reversals that occur on no-news days and find that short selling during such reversals is abnormally aggressive and substantially increases the magnitude of price declines. This negative effect on prices extends beyond a mere selling pressure from aggressive sell orders. Consistent with extant theories of predatory trading, price reversals are also accompanied by aggressive non-short selling. Large price reversals are more likely to occur in the stocks for which short selling restrictions are lifted; however, even when restrictions apply, traders often successfully circumvent them.
Keywords: Short selling, price reversals, speculative and predatory trading, order imbalances
JEL Classification: G14, G19
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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